Review: Bone Crier's Moon

Bone Crier's Moon by Kathryn Purdie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is a just-right fantasy for those of you who appreciate a clean read. Very light romance -- one kissing scene that's pretty tame, and flirting with a little heat. It's an inventive tale about a group of women (bone criers) whose job it is to ferry the dead to the afterlife with a special bone flute. In order to be able to ferry the dead, they must have special skills; these are gathered by making kills and joining one's blood with the essence of the animal through its bones, which then grant the bone crier the ability to see the dead and the strength to ferry them. Part of the initiation into the job of ferrier requires yet one more sacrifice -- the life of the postulant's amouré (one true love). Aliesse is the heir of the bone crier matrone (head of the clan), and her best friend is Sabine. Aliesse has her three animal bones, and it's time to meet her amouré. Sabine goes to help her complete the ritual. Little do they expect to meet up with the likes of Bastien, Jules and Marcel. Bastien witnessed his own father's death at the hands of a bone crier, and with two other orphaned youths, decides to exact his revenge by killing two bone criers. The book is pretty action-packed. Lots of fighting, close calls and near-death experiences.
I only gave it a 3 because I really didn't feel as connected to Aliesse and Bastien as I did to Sabine. She has the potential to be a main character, but seems to be relegated to the role of wingwoman. Inasmuch as the action moves the plot along, I found it a little fatiguing. Maybe I'm just channeling my old age. I also scratched my head over the role of the mother. It was difficult for me to understand and sympathize with her motivation.
So -- good, clean read. I like Sabine, and will probably read the second book in the duology just to see how she fares.

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