Review of The Cold is in Her Bones

This was a unique, dark literary fairy tale. Check out my Review of The Cold is in Her Bones!

The Cold is in Her Bones by Peternelle van Arsdale

To be published on January 22 2019 by Margaret K. McElderry Books. ARC for review from publisher.

Synopsis adapted from Goodreads: Milla knows two things to be true: Demons are real, and fear will keep her safe. Milla’s whole world is her family’s farm.

When a bright-eyed girl named Iris comes to stay, Milla hopes her loneliness might finally be coming to an end.

But Iris has a secret she’s forbidden to share. The village is cursed by a demon who possesses girls at random, and the townspeople live in terror of who it will come for next.

Now, it seems, the demon has come for Iris. When Iris is captured and imprisoned with other possessed girls, Milla leaves home to rescue her and break the curse forever. Her only company on the journey is a terrible new secret of her own. Milla is changing, too, and may soon be a demon herself.

Review of The Cold is in Her Bones

While The Cold is in Her Bones wasn’t (at all) my usual kind of read, I did enjoy it. The story has a dark, literary fairytale feel that will appeal to fans of Rosamund Hodge, Holly Black and Malinda Lo.

The story starts with a curse, then moves to the story of Milla and her family. If I could use one word to describe the book it would be subtle. The pace is measured and the characters are ordinary (in the best sense) people facing odd and mysterious circumstances. There’s menace, but it’s the type that slowly wraps itself around you like the snake pictured on the cover.

The writing is lovely (but again, subtle.) And I wouldn’t have even known that this was a spin on the Medusa story but for a note from the publisher and a mention by another reviewer. (Yet again, subtle!)

Subtlety isn’t often rewarded but sometimes I think it should be! If you’re in the mood for a story that’s deceptively simple and delightfully different, give The Cold is in Her Bones a try!