Bone and Jewel Creatures

---

Open Preview See a Problem? Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Bone and Jewel Creatures 3. Dark magic is afoot in the City of Jackals Eighty years Bijou the Artificer has been a Wizard of Messaline, building her servants from precious scraps, living with the memory of a great love that betrayed her. She is ready to rest. But now her former apprentice, Brazen the Enchanter, has brought her a speechless feral child poisoned by a sorcerous infection. Now, Messalin Dark magic is afoot in the City of Jackals Now, Messaline is swept by a mysterious plague.

Now the seeping corpses of the dead stalk the streets. Now, finally, Bijou's old nemesis--Bijou's old love--Kaulas the Necromancer is unleashing a reeking half-death on Bijou's people. And only Bijou and her creatures wrought of bone and jewels can save the City of Jackals from his final revenge. Hardcover , pages. Bone and Jewel Creatures.

Locus Award Nominee for Best Novella To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Bone and Jewel Creatures , please sign up. Be the first to ask a question about Bone and Jewel Creatures. Lists with This Book. Nov 03, Carol. Text with pictures at my blog: A jewel of a novella. Eighty years a Wizard of Messaline—the city of jackals, the empire of markets—had left their wear.

From the first sentence, Bear had my attention. H Text with pictures at my blog: Her enjoyable, vivid writing kept it. The story begins with Enchanter Bijou in her workshop where she has been building creatures for herself and others out of bone, metals and found objects. Examination reveals the child has a necrotic growth in her arm, and even closer examination identifies a foreign object as cause. From there, the plot moves quickly, although somewhat predictably. This little novella has definitely sold me on trying more Elizabeth Bear, including the stand-alone prequel, Book of Iron.

I highly recommend it, particularly to fans of Valente. Superb and very imaginative novella, with a 96!! It would have been nice to find out more about the magic system, the castes, the political and social environement; the idea of the known name and the secret power-name I read in som Superb and very imaginative novella, with a 96!! It would have been nice to find out more about the magic system, the castes, the political and social environement; the idea of the known name and the secret power-name I read in some other works too, but I like it.

Jessica Joslin 's bone and brass animals can stand for several of Bijou's menagerie: Mike Libby 's steampunk insects or Edouard Martinet 's metal insects could be the myriad of little bugs on Bijou's floor: Or some snake robots, anybody? Aug 03, Nikki rated it really liked it Shelves: How often do you get a 96 year old protagonist with arthritis? You have all the details you need. The writing is good too, with some lovely moments of description — the wariness of the child, the glitter of the titular bone and jewel creatures.

Overall, I found it pretty satisfying, which is rare in a novella; normally I just want more of it. Nov 05, Laurel rated it really liked it Shelves: One of the reasons I love novellas, is that authors will often be a little experimental, more daring. In one sitting, you can be drawn into a well crafted and imaginative piece, that offers something a novel cannot. It's almost as if novellas are our adult fairy tales - they use a strange and simple story to give a moral lesson, like an old fable. I realize that my description is vague. I do not wish to spoil the story. Rather, to express my appreciation of a good old adventure tale, with genuin One of the reasons I love novellas, is that authors will often be a little experimental, more daring.

Rather, to express my appreciation of a good old adventure tale, with genuine characters mixed in. Dec 29, Kristen rated it really liked it. Bone and Jewel Creatures is set in the same world as the Eternal Sky trilogy, but other than the shared setting they are unrelated. This novella focuses on the year-old wizard Bijou, who also appeared in the prequel novella Book of Iron.

Although it's not absolutely necessary to do so, I am glad I read the prequel first since it provided more background on the conflict in this story. This isn't a book to read for the plot, which is slow moving, but one to read for the lovely writing, the imagi Bone and Jewel Creatures is set in the same world as the Eternal Sky trilogy, but other than the shared setting they are unrelated.

This isn't a book to read for the plot, which is slow moving, but one to read for the lovely writing, the imagination that went into Bijou's menagerie of bone and jewel creatures, and the two major characters. Bijou herself is a wonderful, and it's also partially told from the perspective of a feral child who's been living with jackals that is very different from viewpoints I've encountered in my reading before. Sep 17, Joseph rated it it was amazing. A short novel set in the world of Bear's Eternal Sky trilogy, although essentially unrelated.

Intricate and delicate and beautifully written. May 26, Sarah CoolCurryBooks rated it really liked it. This little novella is probably one of my favorite things Elizabeth Bear has ever written. Bijou the Artificer is a wizard of Messaline, and she has remained such for over eighty years. Now, near the end of her life when she only wants to create her fantastical metal animals in peace, a former apprentice has brought her a feral child, poisoned by a sorcerous spell.

He has plans afoot, and both Bijou and the unnamed child will find This little novella is probably one of my favorite things Elizabeth Bear has ever written. He has plans afoot, and both Bijou and the unnamed child will find themselves being swept into them. Most notably, this is the home of Range of Ghosts, the first book in her epic fantasy trilogy, and The Stone in the Skull, a new novel and the start of a swords and sorcery series.

While it is a second world setting, it draws heavily on our own world, specifically Central Asia. The cultural analogs range from Nepal to Mongolia to India to Arabia. Messaline is a trading city, similar to our own Silk Road cities. But the world building is wonderous and gorgeously wrought!

Bijou rends down dead animals for their bones, then refashions the skeletons into fantastical animals, embedded with jewels. She brings these creations to life with her magic, and they serve as friends and companions. The interactions between the two are one of my favorite parts. Yet, she has capabilities that surpass them, as she is beginning to realize.

I love how Elizabeth Bear always creates such vibrant female characters, and she again achieves this in Bone and Jewel Creatures. How often have you read about a girl raised by jackals and a ninety-something-year-old female wizard?

Why is it one of my favorite? Bone and Jewel Creatures might have had a necromancer for a villain not an unusual choice , but it never felt stale, boring, or trope ladened. I recommend it to anyone looking for an enchanting story.

Review from The Illustrated Page. The problem with Elizabeth Bear's writing is that she sets herself a really high bar. I have nothing to fault in the execution or construction of this story, just that it didn't tug at my heartstrings or explode my mind. The best part of the book was the world, and the magical creations that exist in it, the bone and jewel creatures of the title. Those shimmer against the dusty city. The least compelling part is probably the plot, which hits predictable emotional notes. It's possible I actually y The problem with Elizabeth Bear's writing is that she sets herself a really high bar.

0 Comments

You'd like a viewpoint character who is old, one who really feels the weight of years. If you'd like a viewpoint character who is nonverbal but not unintelligent. You are really not up to reading about maggots, necrosis, or necromancers. Love in the Time of Cholera for an older viewpoint character struggling with age, and meditating on love, patience, and creepy stalker lovers.

Aug 27, Tim Hicks rated it really liked it Shelves: This is a good example of why there are novellas. I'm sure Bear must have thought, "Suppose there was a place where someone can make weird prosthetics, and that place had a necromancer. They'd have to be in conflict, of course. How might that work? Maybe the setting is a tad too weird for a novel; we have to get the story over with before we dig too deep into the details.

The two female leads are very good ideas, and the language is excellent. Jan 01, Peter Tillman marked it as to-read Shelves: The first is of Bijou, who is one of the most believable portraits of an aging artisan I've ever read. She's set in her ways, frustrated at the failings of her body, and taciturn, but also wise in how to interact with others and able to be decisive.

Bear shows in her relationship with her creations all the time-worn rhythms and silent comfort of https: Bear shows in her relationship with her creations all the time-worn rhythms and silent comfort of a working relationship that's based on deep mutual trust and respect, and which has been exercised so much that it can be relied on without requiring analysis. Mar 06, Stefan rated it really liked it Shelves: In Bone and Jewel Creatures, a beautiful new novella by Elizabeth Bear, Bijou the Artificer creates her own servants and companions by animating bones.

When her former apprentice, Brazen the Enchanter, brings her a feral, mute child, she is presented with the challenge of fixing its misshapen arm At just under pages, Bone and Jewel Creatures packs a strong punch. Bijou is a fascinati In Bone and Jewel Creatures, a beautiful new novella by Elizabeth Bear, Bijou the Artificer creates her own servants and companions by animating bones. Bijou is a fascinating main character — an aging wizard surrounded by her own wondrous creatures, some of which, by themselves, make this book worth reading.

The arrival of the feral child sets off a complex plot involving Bijou's past, the political history of the land, an intriguing religion, and three distinct modes of magic. There's quite a lot more material packed into this short novella than you'd initially expect — and as with all the best novellas, you'll be satisfied with the ending while at the same time hoping for future stories set in the same world.

The story is told in gorgeous prose, frequently very lyrical and on a few occasions even surprisingly funny. The combination of the poetic style and the main character's occupation at times made me think of Bijou as an older version of Casimira from Catherynne M. Valente's Palimpsest — and readers who enjoyed that excellent novel may well enjoy Bone and Jewel Creatures.

This review was also published on the Fantasy Literature website: Feb 17, Kae Cheatham rated it really liked it Shelves: Stories about wizards and sorcery aren't usually my preference; the interesting title and cover compelled me to take this from my public library shelf.

Bone and Jewel Creatures

I was not sorry. Elizabeth Bear's story about a wizardry power struggle was--enchanting: She is old, and her thoughts and struggles with her infirmities are well told.

The reader will also sense she has a "past. Bijou agrees to help the child, although she feels discomfited by the circumstances. Her worries are substantiates when she discovers a purposefully placed item in the child's rotting hand that is causing the limb deterioration. She suspects who has done this, but isn't sure why. In this well-written novella, Bear gives three points of view: Bijou, Brazen, and the child Emeraude.

Bear moves effectively from one to the other in clearly-delineated passages that add dimension to the story. The writing and vivid descriptions quickly immersed me in this magical world, from Bijou's workshop and her intricate companions she constructed, to the surrounding City of Jackals.

I enjoyed the book, and the brevity seemed fitting for the story. Too much more could have been too much. Oct 23, Beth rated it liked it Shelves: Aged wizard Bijou is living a fairly quiet life creating golems for the locals and herself the bone and jewel creatures of the title , until her once-apprentice Brazen brings an injured feral child to her doorstep.

A growing number of necrosis-plagued creatures begin arriving at her workshop after that, bringing Bijou closer to her past, and Messaline, city of jackals, closer to an uncertain future. This writing in this novella is very pretty, polished to a shine. The golems are fascinating, won Aged wizard Bijou is living a fairly quiet life creating golems for the locals and herself the bone and jewel creatures of the title , until her once-apprentice Brazen brings an injured feral child to her doorstep.

The golems are fascinating, wonderfully described, and just enough of Messaline and its residents was revealed to make me interested in seeing more of it. Unfortunately, I never got a reader's buzz from the novella and it took way too long to read, even more so than my normal. It's hard to say why; maybe because it felt lacking in warmth, like it was more engaged in its level of performance than developing a bond with me, the reader. Maybe because the plotting felt rote, hints early on leading to predictable conflicts and resolutions later on, a disappointment in comparison to Bijou's workshop's gorgeous, unsettling menagerie.

Bone and Jewel Creatures has a lot going for it, but it wasn't a satisfactory read for me. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account. Notify me of new comments via email. Notify me of new posts via email. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Goodreads Hydra Reviews Spoiler alerts! About Me Review philosophy Links of Interest.

Bone and Jewel Creatures by Elizabeth Bear. Posted on November 14, by thebookgator. Email Twitter Facebook Google. About thebookgator avid reader and Goodreads reviewer looking for a home. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Enter your comment here Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

• The Complete Guide to Understanding, Controlling, and Stopping Bullies & Bullying at Work: A Complet
• Chelsea FC Complete League Positions, Performance & Average Attendances by Year
• Urtaru (The Urtaru Chronicles Book 1)
• #0314 ALEXANDRA SHAWL VINTAGE CROCHET PATTERN (Single Patterns)
• Self-Raised Or, From the Depths
• A Little Christmas Magic