In The Bone Witch, the story goes back and forth from the present day interaction of Tea and the minstrel on the desolate coast to the past events that lead to her exile. The Heartforger is again told from the perspective of the minstrel tasked by Tea to document her true story. Her brother is now what they call her familiar, basically a full functioning dead person who she can communicate with telepathically, and provides for a number of lighthearted moments in what really is a gruesome story. Even after she discovers the full extent of her powers she is still humble and her heart still desires to make right all that is wrong. Tea, the teenage girl who unexpectedly found out she was a Bone Witch after she raised her her beloved older brother from the dead after he was killed by one of the daeva, terrifying magical creatures that roamed the land is swept into a world far removed from her simple peasant upbringing. Rin creates a hierarchy of rich characters that are each intriguing in their own ways.

It makes me think of the world of medieval Asia exotic lands with royalty and soldiers, courtesans and peasants, intrigue and deception all in the quest for power. Rin has created an ancient fantasy world for this series that is rich with detail and captivating to ponder. Rin Chupeco delivers a entrancing conclusion to The Bone Witch in the second book of the tale of Tea, the girl who can raise the dead.

The heartforger