The Bones Of The Earth By Scott Bury

Scott Bury has defined this book as “Historical magic realism” and after reading The Bones Of The Earth (The Dark Age) I totally agree. This genre of book is quite a departure for me but I found this story to be amazingly detailed, thought provoking and captivating on many levels. It is very apparent that a tremendous amount of research went into the writing of this book and coupled with the amazing characters and plot twists I could not put this book down.

Javor has just turned 14 years of age when his story begins. His village is violently attacked by horsemen and then by a horrible monster that attacks and kills his parent. He avenges their deaths using the dagger passed on to him from his Great Grandfather and an amulet that he wears around his neck. Upon his return the leaders in his village ask him to leave to alleviate the threat to their people. Javor then begins his long, treacherous journey accompanied by Potius a Greek traveler who was visiting his village.

The descriptive writing of their journey coupled with the horrors that they encounter is portrayed in a vivid and expressive style. The landscapes and incredibly memorable depiction of the hardships and evil they encounter clearly reflect the tremendous writing in this book.

This story will keep you totally absorbed and the plot twists are never ending. I found the historical references familiar and the research involved in this book is undeniable. Scott Bury has managed to capture the quality of fantasy mixed with the historical reality of the times to present a truly remarkable and magical story. I highly recommend this book!