I certainly enjoyed the Bonemender! The storyline's unique, and I love the characters, especially Princess Gabriel, the bonemender with her special gift of hand healing. I just wish it hadn't skipped around quite so much. It seemed that Gabrielle had just met the Elf, Feolan, saved his friend, Danais life when she discovers that Feolan's her soulmate. This book had everything...intense fighting scenes, romance, fantastic characters and this fantasy world that Holly Bennett created was terrific. I've picked up the second book in the series, "The Bonemenders Oath" at the Library and am almost finished. I certainly haven't been disappointed with this series.
Jack Murphy ( )

The first book in an ongoing fantasy series which follows the fortunes of Gabrielle DesChenes, daughter of the royal house of the kingdom of Verdeau, and a Bonemender (healer) with extraordinary abilities. With the arrival on the scene of two elves - Féolan and Danaïs - one of whom is gravely injured, and the bleak news they bring of a terrible danger to the north, the stage is soon set for an exciting story. Throw in some magical healing, entertaining and occasionally moving family dynamics, a seemingly impossible love, and a surprise discovery at the end, and you have a very engaging and satisfactory fantasy novel for young readers.

I have read the complaint elsewhere that this novel (Bennett's debut) lacks originality. While it is certainly true that the constituent elements of this story can be found in many other works of fantasy literature, Bennett weaves them together into a cohesive whole that is neither pedestrian nor derivative. In fact, I would argue that given fantasy's "folkloric" nature (the subject of my research), this sort of "un-originality" is one of the strengths of the genre. ( )

Gabrielle, princess of DesChenes, is also a bonemender (healer) with unusual magical healing abilities. Aged 27, she has never found true love - but her parents aren't too worried as they already have grandchildren through her brother's marriage. One day the elf, Féolan, arrives on the castle doorstep with his seriously injured friend, Danaïs. The elves have not been seen in many years and were thought by some to have died out. Grateful to find such an accomplised healer, the elves bring news of a hostile army massing to the north. Gabrielle and Féolan soon realise that they have feelings for each other, but how can that be given that an elf's lifespan is many hundred years more than a humans.... A quick read, but an enjoyable one for fantasy readers. I did feel that the story could have been fleshed out more and I would have liked more attention given to character devlopment, but overall a good story. ( )

A fantasy novel that tales into the ream of healing, Elves, and the battle of the world outside ( )

I enjoyed the simplicity of this fantasy world - no overwrought magic system, no court intrigue, even the elves are very like people, only longer lived. The story follows Gabrielle, healer and princess, as she saves a wounded elf. Alas, the elves bring news of coming war.
The story is gentle - every time I expect a conflict, none appears. I enjoyed the individual characters very much, but aside from the obvious threat of war, I didn't feel fear for any of them, I was sure they'd all be fine at the end of the story.
It almost feels as if the author liked the people too much to place them in any real danger. ( )