The Bones of Ruin
Sarah Raughley
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
★★★★☆
Iris is a circus performer, balancing far above the spectators of Victorian England, during a time where bigotry and oppression came standard. Skilled in her act, she performs well, until something happens that turns the world on its head.
Iris has no memory of her life except for the past 10 years. Her mind is a blank slate, but as memories start to seep in, she is set on a path of discovery - not just of herself, but also of the potential cataclysm facing the world and the mysteries that all seem to point to her as a key in it all.
The story follows Iris, an African tight-rope dancer who lives and travels with a local circus troupe as a headliner in her act: "The Nubian Princess and The Turkish Prince". Her circus family is a key point in her life, as she cares for an elderly African woman named Granny Marlow, chases after a goose named Egg, and bickers with Jinn, who is her counterpart in their sky-high act. Life seems normal and straight-forward, as far as circus life can be. Only problem? Iris has a big secret and no memory beyond the last 10 years of her life...
During a promotional event, Iris and Jinn perform an act above the streets of London. It's going flawlessly until Iris is distracted with a memory trickles in. She misses the rope and crashes down to the streets below, breaking her neck. Expecting death, Jinn is beside himself - until she wakes and stands as if nothing happens. This reveals Iris' best kept secret: she cannot die. Speculation surrounding the event launches Iris' future into the realm of the unknown.
I was very excited to pick up this book, especially after finding out that the author, Sarah Raughley, is Canadian! This novel is an explosion of culture, history, mysticism, and the supernatural. It provides an immensely in-depth portrayal of a fantastical spin of Victorian London. She satisfies so many palates as she dives into secret societies, the spectacle of the circus, and finding ones place in the strangeness of the world.
Through reading this story, I could tell that Sarah really did her research into the era. She makes mention to literature that would be at its peak at the time (Alice in Wonderland), talks of the elaborate fashion of the day, and underlines the struggles faced by people of colour and minority groups in London at the time. Her description and use of historical research really helps immerse the reader into her fantastical world, making the actions and locations palpable to the mind's eye.
There are a lot of layers in this story - lots of characters and plots to keep track of. This was a bit overwhelming at times. Despite this, as the story unraveled it really impressed upon me that the multi-faceted characteristics of the prose were intentional in developing a well-thought out narrative that pulls the reader in and keeps them guessing. It is an ambitious plot, but I believe Sarah executed it well.
I think one of my favourite parts is the discovery of the other characters and seeing how they relate to one another and how their abilities are revealed piece by piece. I am a sucker for the "found family" trope, and Sarah infuses this well into the narrative.
There are far more facets involved in this sizeable read, but each inclusion truly provides a commendable work of historical fantasy. Well done!
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