The Bone House (Bright Empires)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is the sequel to The Skin Map, which disappointed me when I read it a few months ago. Nevertheless, I decided to give Stephen Lawhead a second chance because of the pleasure his earlier books have given.
Sadly there was no sign of improvement. The dialogue and characterization remain as wooden as before. As for the storyline, if anything, that has degenerated even further into a series of short scenes located at different times in very different geographical locations strung together in a (deliberately?) confusing manner. Even worse, he has begun to indulge in a bad habit of the second-rate novelist: using arbitrary scene breaks to create a false sense of tension. On top of that, he indulges in some rather unsubtle infodumping more than once.
I also have my doubts about the extent and reliability of the historical research he has done. To take just one example, he has Douglas Flinders-Petrie seek out Roger Bacon in Oxford in 1260 when according to modern scholars he was in Paris. Granted this is a parallel universe rather than our own past, but little things like that make it harder for me to suspend my disbelief.
Also irritating was the evidence of poor editing. Glaring typos like `Canus Major' for `Canis Major', `died' for `dyed', and `bier' for `byre' are really not excusable!
Much as I wanted to enjoy this novel, I must again register my disappointment. I won't be reading any more of the series.
NB I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Sadly there was no sign of improvement. The dialogue and characterization remain as wooden as before. As for the storyline, if anything, that has degenerated even further into a series of short scenes located at different times in very different geographical locations strung together in a (deliberately?) confusing manner. Even worse, he has begun to indulge in a bad habit of the second-rate novelist: using arbitrary scene breaks to create a false sense of tension. On top of that, he indulges in some rather unsubtle infodumping more than once.
I also have my doubts about the extent and reliability of the historical research he has done. To take just one example, he has Douglas Flinders-Petrie seek out Roger Bacon in Oxford in 1260 when according to modern scholars he was in Paris. Granted this is a parallel universe rather than our own past, but little things like that make it harder for me to suspend my disbelief.
Also irritating was the evidence of poor editing. Glaring typos like `Canus Major' for `Canis Major', `died' for `dyed', and `bier' for `byre' are really not excusable!
Much as I wanted to enjoy this novel, I must again register my disappointment. I won't be reading any more of the series.
NB I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
96 reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
"The Bone House" by Stephen R. Lawhead
24 Aug 2011
Format:Hardcover
One year ago, less one week, I posted my review of Stephen Lawheads "The Skin Map", which is the first book in the "Bright Empires" series. Here, then, is the second book in that series. The Bone House continues the story of Kit Livingston in his quest for the skin map. One piece has been found, but the stakes have been raised. Kit has inherited this quest from his grandfather, Cosimo, but Kit is now on the run, and, except for the help of his surprisingly resourceful girlfriend Mina, on his own.
This book was a pleasant surprise. It is an incredibly rare series which gets better in the second book, but Lawhead has done just that. He has maintained the depth of character development, excellent descriptions of the scenes, and at the same time upped the pace and removed my one qualm with the first book in this series: the confusion of jumping from time to time. In this book, he is much more careful to place cues at the beginning of each chapter so that you know where you are, in the story at least.
Conclusion: 4 Stars. Conditionally recommended. The only condition is that you like a mix of history, science fiction, and fantasy. Really though, you should like it, it's fun reading.
This book was provided by Booksneeze for review.
This book was a pleasant surprise. It is an incredibly rare series which gets better in the second book, but Lawhead has done just that. He has maintained the depth of character development, excellent descriptions of the scenes, and at the same time upped the pace and removed my one qualm with the first book in this series: the confusion of jumping from time to time. In this book, he is much more careful to place cues at the beginning of each chapter so that you know where you are, in the story at least.
Conclusion: 4 Stars. Conditionally recommended. The only condition is that you like a mix of history, science fiction, and fantasy. Really though, you should like it, it's fun reading.
This book was provided by Booksneeze for review.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
A stunning second installment in a grand series
24 Aug 2011
Format:Hardcover
The Bone House continues the tale begun in The Skin Map, as Kit Livingstone furthers the quest given him by his great-grandfather, to restore a map that charts the ability to travel the multiverse using ley lines. His girlfriend, Mina, who was caught in seventeenth-century Prague, is likewise furthering her establishment among the powerful of the age while developing her own knowledge of ley travel. Both are racing against others also intent on pursing the pieces of the skin map, others willing to do whatever necessary to succeed.
I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment in the Bright Empire Series, a series with such a vast scope that it is truly an ambitious accomplishment. Lawhead is a master with the pen, and his ability to set the scene and create tension are superb. His writing is powerful, and I was immediately caught up again into this fantastic fantasy world that he has created, a journey winging through space and time and history into dimensions uncharted. The characters are intriguing and only growing more so as their respective histories unfold. Kit's experience at the end of the book was absolutely fascinating and I did not want the story to end! Although there are a number of characters to keep track of, their collective focus on ley travel and its secrets kept the story focused and easy for me to follow.
I absolutely loved this book, and am left craving for more. I cannot wait for the next installment, The Spirit Well, coming September 2012. I highly recommend this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
Note: I would greatly advise reading the first book in this series prior to embarking upon The Bone House in order to fully appreciate the grandness of this series.
This book has been provided courtesy of the publisher via the Booksneeze program for the purposes of this unbiased review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment in the Bright Empire Series, a series with such a vast scope that it is truly an ambitious accomplishment. Lawhead is a master with the pen, and his ability to set the scene and create tension are superb. His writing is powerful, and I was immediately caught up again into this fantastic fantasy world that he has created, a journey winging through space and time and history into dimensions uncharted. The characters are intriguing and only growing more so as their respective histories unfold. Kit's experience at the end of the book was absolutely fascinating and I did not want the story to end! Although there are a number of characters to keep track of, their collective focus on ley travel and its secrets kept the story focused and easy for me to follow.
I absolutely loved this book, and am left craving for more. I cannot wait for the next installment, The Spirit Well, coming September 2012. I highly recommend this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
Note: I would greatly advise reading the first book in this series prior to embarking upon The Bone House in order to fully appreciate the grandness of this series.
This book has been provided courtesy of the publisher via the Booksneeze program for the purposes of this unbiased review.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Slow Pacing Bogs Down Intriguing Story
6 Dec 2011
Format:Hardcover
I've always been intrigued by the idea of time travel and multiverses. I also enjoy historical fiction. With the Bright Empires trilogy Lawhead attempts to meld the two together with an epic story that stretches across continents, universes, and centuries. The Bone House is the second book in the series and follows immediately after The Skin Map. If you have not read the first book you need to pick it up first otherwise you will be completely lost.
I really enjoyed the historical elements of the book. Lawhead does a good job of capturing the sites, sounds, and smells of the world that his characters inhabit. He takes great pains to make sure the reader experiences what the character experience.
The overall story arc is also fascinating. I won't go into details because I don't want to spoil the plot, but he keeps the tension levels up by keeping a dark and mysterious tone throughout the whole of the work and a tension that something huge is bubbling right below the surface.
The things that didn't work well for me were the often plodding pacing and rather boring characters. The one character that felt and sounded real to me (the same thing with the first book) was Mina. I wanted to skip to chapters about her because she was just much more interesting than any other character. Also, while Lawhead does a good job painting a picture of the environment he often does this to the detriment of the story. The story is needlessly bogged down by overabundant descriptions of things that could easily have been stated in a sentence or less but instead take whole paragraphs.
On the whole, if you enjoyed the first book you should enjoy this one. If you did not enjoy the first book you probably won't enjoy this one. I like the concept and story arc enough and enjoy reading about the character of Mina enough that I will persevere through the sequels to see what happens. Hopefully Lawhead can pick up the pace in the storytelling department in his future books.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I really enjoyed the historical elements of the book. Lawhead does a good job of capturing the sites, sounds, and smells of the world that his characters inhabit. He takes great pains to make sure the reader experiences what the character experience.
The overall story arc is also fascinating. I won't go into details because I don't want to spoil the plot, but he keeps the tension levels up by keeping a dark and mysterious tone throughout the whole of the work and a tension that something huge is bubbling right below the surface.
The things that didn't work well for me were the often plodding pacing and rather boring characters. The one character that felt and sounded real to me (the same thing with the first book) was Mina. I wanted to skip to chapters about her because she was just much more interesting than any other character. Also, while Lawhead does a good job painting a picture of the environment he often does this to the detriment of the story. The story is needlessly bogged down by overabundant descriptions of things that could easily have been stated in a sentence or less but instead take whole paragraphs.
On the whole, if you enjoyed the first book you should enjoy this one. If you did not enjoy the first book you probably won't enjoy this one. I like the concept and story arc enough and enjoy reading about the character of Mina enough that I will persevere through the sequels to see what happens. Hopefully Lawhead can pick up the pace in the storytelling department in his future books.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
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