Set in the 1600s, Genevieve is thrust into a quickie marriage with Hugh McKinley and taken to his family’s mansion. Once she arrives her chambermaid is missing and she is subjected to bizarre rules& abuse by Hugh. But things get weirder as Genevieve meets Hugh’s deranged family. Ghosts, mummies, cannibalism, murder and mayhem ensue.

I thought this book was disjointed at times, but some of the ghosts & other creatures were spooky. Tamar’s writing style reminds me of Darcy Coates. I learned about “mummia.”
Trust me, you don’t want to know.

Thank you to NetGalley and BookBuzz.net for a copy of this book.

I want to start off by saying thank you to NetGalley and BTW LLC Publishing House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has it all with murder, cannibalism, mayhem, and mummies.

Genevieve is twenty years old when she is told to act as if she is seventeen to be more suitable for men looking for wives. She marries Hugh McKinley the day she meets him and soon realizes he is cruel, quick to anger, delusional, and his entire family is determined to stay young forever by any and all means necessary. The secret to remaining youthful? Cannibalism and when you can find one, buying a mummy.

Genevieve is treated more like a possession rather than a spouse, which wasn't uncommon in the 17th century when this takes place, she idly stands by and watches the horrors occurring within the McKinley Manor without attempting to stop them or try to leave. Survival means becoming one of them so she adapts to her surroundings, mimics the families behavior when needed, and acts as if she is one of them. I honestly found Genevieve to be a dull character which made this book difficult for me to get through even though I enjoyed the subject matter. If Genevieve's character was developed better this could have been a four to five star book.

Such a good read for the Halloween season. The gothic imagery of the home as well as the way it subverts what a home is supposed to be. I also despised the family from the start.

Genevieve is about to enter into an arranged marriage with Hugh McKinley,the brother to her brother's wife. Hugh is a wealthy man. They get married on the same day they meet in front of Hugh's dead father. Genevieve then meets the whole family for dinner and she notices not all is what it seems. The McKinley's like to indulge in a strange black powder in their drinks. This powder is made out of mummies. Mummies are supposed to cure all ailments and help a person to retain their youth.
This book is full of mysteries, ghosts, cannibalism and more!!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Conceptually, this book had everything designed for me to enjoy it. The historical context, the insanity of the beliefs attached to the mummies and the horror elements, and the creeping sense of dread. Realistically, this book should have been a dream for me, but I just couldn't get into it as much as I'd hoped. There was definitely a good atmosphere built up in the house, but the structure of the book just seemed a little off to me, and I didn't connect with the main character as much as I would have hoped.

The concept of living in a home in a marriage you've been somewhat forced into with cannibalistic practices is horrifying, but the main character simply sees it as water off a duck's back. The language used in the book is not accurate to the time either, and there seems to be a focus on the horror without much thought as to the consequences of the horror itself.

It was definitely a long haul, and I feel it could have benefited from some heavy editing in places. I really enjoyed the concept, as I said, but unfortunately this book just did not do it for me.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Btwllcpublishinghouse for this ARC. Sinew and Bone is delightfully creepy, chaotic, and gory. Geneveive is an unreliable narrator who has a penchant for disregarding what is happening around her. Typically, this would be problematic in a novel for me; however, I found her to be an absolute riot in her delusional thought processes and speech. Despite being a horror novel, this book is quite funny and clever with its petulant characters, exaggerated take on westernized beauty standards and feminism. It draws light on these social issues in a way that is so over the top that it cannot go unnoticed. The reason I only gave this book 3 stars was because I thought there could have been a bit more context given to the ending, a bit more foreshadowing, a build up of sorts before the big reveal. Aside from that, I enjoyed the way it was written, I loved the humor mixed in with the gore, and the overall story was compelling.

I loved the gore and the darkness with the setting in the 1600's London but I didn't enjoy the plot. I would love to read something else from this author because I like her ideas but the execution of this book did not overwhelm me.

On the eve of her twentieth birthday, Genevieve is taken aback by a shocking revelation: her parents have arranged a marriage for her. However, there’s a twist - they insist she pretends to be three years younger, fearing that she may not attract the most affluent suitors now that she’s past her teens.

This simple request shows where the desire to remain young looking and beautiful makes Genevieve ignore things that any sane person would question.

Genevieve is fooled by the charisma and charm of Hugh McKinley, her soon-to-be husband, and agrees to the arrangement.

There are enough red flags on the ride to the McKinley estate, starting with the immediate and abrupt need to marry before the day is over, but the girl ignores them all over the desire to be the head of an influential household.

It doesn't take long for her to finally see things may be not as they seem, though it takes longer than my patience could almost handle. The start of the book is slow, as the characters are built.

There are some very gruesome moments in this novel, which I of course approve of, but there are also some large inconsistencies that made me roll my eyes.

I enjoyed the writer's style, it reminded me of Poe in the dark gothic feel it caused. Being rooted in a practice that was common among the rich in Victorian times added to the interesting entertainment factor.

Not sure if this is a young adult horror novel, but it read that way to me.
Still, I found it amusing and a nicely haunting.

Thanks to @netgalley and Btw llc publishing house for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

This book was engaging and entertaining. This was my first read by Tamar and I was impressed by the ability to marry two genres. The characters were likeable and I was captivated throughout. Well done!

TW for all animals, minus cats!
This wasn't a bad read however, it was very inconsistent when it comes to pace and there were times were the gap between periods was unbearable. While the characters are not bad, there was no development for them to grow. It most definitely reads very YA. I did however enjoy the gore!!! Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC.

Okay. WHOOF. this was a long ride:

The opening was quite horrid, and not in the sense of a strong horror. But as it went on and built, the characters started working better than before and the ending sequence especially was fantastic. A bit of a slog to get through at first (especially at over 500 pages???) but when it hits the end it's worth it. 3.5 stars, could shift. tysm for the arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Btw llc publishing house for my arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

"Sinew and Bone" by Gitte Tamar was super disappointing. I just. Yeah.

A great big “not for me” on this one. DNF.

Set in the 1600s Genevieve Ellsworth”s mother tells her to pretend to be seventeen (she’s twenty) in order to make the best possible marriage match. The person I was dating at seventeen might have ended up in prison, I don’t know.

But I digress. Her parents marry her off to the first man who asks, the wealthy Hugh McKinley. After about ten minutes he accepts her as his bride and tells her they are leaving immediately for his far away home; she is allowed to take nothing with her, though she slips in her ladies’ maid at the last minute (and more’s the pity for her.)

He’s cruel before they even wave farewell to mater and pater and it just gets worse and worse once they reach his home. Then they meet his awful family and it gets worser. Then there’s a mummy.

DNF at 31% when her brother in law tells her the family were so drunk that night they will all just FORGET THE FLESH EATING MUMMY.

This was definitely a cover pick for me. It's absolutely gorgeous and I was so excited for the story itself. Sadly, it wasn't for me and I couldn't connect with the story.

This was far and away the most terrible book I’ve read on NetGalley. I actually have a hard time believing it was written by an adult, it’s worse than most 12 year old’s fanfiction. Not a single character had a definable personality, nor did any of them act remotely like a person at any time. It feels like a collection of random descriptions stapled together. The “plot” also didn’t make sense and had a million holes and unresolved elements. Honestly less than one star.

Cat lovers are safe to read this one. TW for other animals though. They’re not marked safe.
The pacing in this book was incredibly inconsistent. It started at warp speed, for sure. There isn’t true development with the characters, so it was a little jarring initially. This isn’t the kind of book you read and say wow, so maybe that’s ok. It definitely reads as a YA. Very simple writing style and not a lot of thinking involved. There is quite a bit of gore involved, so maybe not for young teens/tweens, but good for an average high school kid.

Sinew and Bone by Gitte Tamar ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow! Never have I felt physically ill by a book until now. (A tale of cannibalism, death and madness) perfect for Halloween time.

The time is of 17th-century London in eerie McKinley Estates. Genevieve is set to marry Hugh McKinley who is not all it seems. As soon as she arrives she finds a dark and sinister presence that’s is not only the house its occupants.

TW: cannibalism, gruesome death, abuse

Sinew and Bone by Gitte Tamar is a chilling horror novel that grips readers from the very first page. Tamar’s unique voice and original twists elevate the story beyond the ordinary. Sinew and Bone is a gripping read that will appeal to horror enthusiasts looking for a fresh and unsettling tale.

Gitte Tamar’s "Sinew and Bone" transports readers to the hauntingly beautiful landscape of 17th-century London, where the themes of desire, deception, and darkness intertwine in a masterfully woven tale. The novel adeptly encapsulates the thrilling essence of historical fiction and gothic horror, drawing comparisons to the works of literary giants like Oscar Wilde and Mary Shelley.

At the heart of the narrative is Genevieve, a young woman faced with an arranged marriage that forces her to navigate the treacherous waters of high society while grappling with her own identity. The author’s portrayal of the McKinley Estate allows readers to glimpse both its splendor and its sinister undercurrents. As Genevieve uncovers the mansion's chilling secrets, the pace quickens, and the tension intensifies, making it nearly impossible to put the book down.

While I appreciated the richly detailed setting and the psychological depth that Tamar brings to her characters, I found some of the lengthy descriptions at times detracted from the overall pacing. Historical details can be immersive, but they frequently caused my interest to wane, pulling me away from the gripping plot.

Despite this, "Sinew and Bone" is undeniably compelling and crafted with remarkable skill. I truly believe it has the potential to be recognized as a classic in the genre. For anyone who loves gothic themes wrapped in a historical context, this book is a must-read. Prepare for a journey filled with haunting beauty and irredeemable darkness.

Sinew and Bone by Gitte Tamar is a stunningly crafted novel that weaves together elements of fantasy and dark folklore with breathtaking prose. The world-building is immersive, pulling readers into a richly detailed landscape filled with complex characters and gripping dilemmas. Tamar’s storytelling is both haunting and poignant, exploring themes of power, sacrifice, and the ties that bind us. This book is a captivating journey that will resonate with fans of richly woven narratives and emotional depth.