Graveyard Mischief and Warnings

Aderyn "Ryn" and her siblings grow up wild on the edge of the haunted Annwvyn forest, their father a gravedigger and their mother a practical woman who plants gorse to ward off magic. The children are warned never to follow their father into the woods, but curiosity leads Ryn to a terrifying encounter with a "bone house"—a corpse that walks. Her father teaches her not to fear death, but to respect it, and imparts practical skills for surviving both the forest and the graveyard. When he disappears on a job in the mountains, the family is left with only half a carved love spoon as a promise of his return. Ryn's life is shaped by this loss, her fascination with death, and the ever-present threat of the bone houses.

The Dead Walk at Dusk

Now a young woman, Ryn has inherited her father's role as gravedigger, struggling to support her siblings, Gareth and Ceridwen, after their mother's death and uncle's disappearance. The village of Colbren is shrinking, and the dead are increasingly burned rather than buried, threatening her livelihood. Ryn's pragmatic approach to the bone houses—dismembering them to keep them from wandering—contrasts with the villagers' denial and fear. The bone houses, once confined to the forest, are now appearing in the fields, signaling that something in the old magic has changed.

Stranger in the Wilds

Ellis, a young mapmaker with a mysterious past and a chronic shoulder injury, camps near the forest and is attacked by a bone house. Ryn intervenes, saving his life with her axe. Their meeting is awkward but fateful, as Ellis's outsider status and lack of belief in magic are quickly challenged by the reality of the risen dead. Ryn's matter-of-fact attitude toward the supernatural and her need for coin lead her to accept Ellis's request for guidance into the mountains, setting their partnership in motion.

Village on the Edge

Ryn's family faces eviction by the cruel local lord, Eynon, who exploits their debts and the village's poverty. The iron fence that once protected Colbren from magic is being dismantled for profit, further endangering the villagers. Ryn's attempts to negotiate with Eynon fail, and the family's future is uncertain. The siblings' dynamic is strained by grief, responsibility, and the threat of losing their home. The village's traditions and superstitions are both a comfort and a source of tension as the bone houses become more active.

Debt, Loss, and Survival

Ryn, Gareth, and Ceridwen navigate the daily challenges of survival, trading food for repairs and relying on each other's strengths. The goat, a gift from the forest, becomes a symbol of stubborn loyalty. The siblings' differing attitudes toward leaving Colbren reflect their personalities: Ryn is rooted in the past, Gareth is practical, and Ceridwen is quietly shrewd. The threat of eviction and the encroaching bone houses force Ryn to consider desperate measures, including venturing into the forest to find the source of the curse.

The Curse's Origin

Ryn recounts the legend of the cauldron of rebirth, stolen from the Otherking's fortress, Castell Sidi. A man uses it to resurrect his beloved, but the power attracts the greed of princes, leading to war and tragedy. The cauldron is cracked during a botched theft, and its magic seeps into the land, animating the dead as bone houses. The story is a warning about the dangers of tampering with death and the unintended consequences of human desire.

Iron Fences and Fears

With the iron fence gone, bone houses attack Colbren in force, killing villagers and laying siege to homes. Ryn's family and Ellis survive a harrowing night, but the cost is high: their uncle, returned as a bone house, is destroyed, and the beloved goat is killed—only to rise again, inexplicably loyal and gentle. The villagers are forced to confront the reality of the curse, and Ryn resolves to end it by seeking the cauldron in the mountains.

The Mapmaker's Secret

Ellis's background as a foundling, taken in by the prince of Caer Aberhen, is explored. He has no memory of his parents and has always felt out of place, defined by his injury and outsider status. His skills as a mapmaker are both a means of survival and a way to impose order on a chaotic world. His growing bond with Ryn is marked by mutual respect, vulnerability, and a shared sense of loss.

Bone Houses Invade

A full-scale assault by bone houses devastates Colbren. Ryn, Ellis, and the siblings barricade themselves, fighting for survival. The goat, now a bone house herself, defends the family, blurring the line between monster and companion. The aftermath is grim: bodies must be burned, and the village mourns its dead. Ryn's resolve hardens—she will journey into the mountains to end the curse, with Ellis as her companion.

Siege and Sacrifice

Ryn and Ellis seek shelter in a mining encampment, only to discover its inhabitants keep their dead as bone houses, refusing to let go of loved ones. The community's bargain with death is both horrifying and deeply human, forcing Ryn and Ellis to confront their own grief and the temptation to cling to the past. When their presence threatens the encampment's fragile peace, they are forced to flee, pursued by both the living and the dead.

The Encampment's Bargain

The encampment's leader, Catrin, reveals that the bone houses there are peaceful, kept by the love and memory of their families. The curse is not just a horror but a comfort to those unwilling to accept loss. Ryn and Ellis are nearly killed for threatening this arrangement, but escape with the help of a mysterious bone house who leads them toward the mine and the heart of the curse.

Into the Mountains

Ryn and Ellis, accompanied by the bone goat, enter the abandoned copper mine, facing physical and supernatural dangers. The mine is a labyrinth of collapsed tunnels, restless dead, and memories of Ryn's father. The journey tests their endurance, trust, and the limits of their courage. Ellis's pain and vulnerability are laid bare, and Ryn's confession about her uncle's death deepens their bond.

The Mine's Dark Heart

The mine is both a literal and metaphorical descent: Ryn faces her guilt over her uncle's burial, and Ellis confronts the reality of his limitations. The bone houses in the mine are relentless, but the group escapes with the help of the bone goat and the intervention of a mysterious bone house who seems to recognize Ryn. The journey through darkness is a crucible, forging their partnership and resolve.

Annwvyn's Golden Forest

Emerging from the mine, Ryn and Ellis find themselves in the enchanted heart of Annwvyn, a forest of golden leaves and ancient magic. The beauty of the place is both awe-inspiring and melancholy, a reminder of what has been lost. They rest, heal, and share moments of vulnerability and humor, deepening their connection. The bone goat's continued loyalty is both a comfort and a mystery.

The Lake and the Afanc

To reach Castell Sidi, Ryn and Ellis must cross Llyn Mawr, a lake guarded by the afanc, a legendary monster. Their boat is destroyed, and Ryn is dragged to the bottom, nearly drowning before escaping with the help of the bones of the dead. The crossing is a test of endurance and ingenuity, and the lake's depths are a graveyard for those who sought the cauldron before them.

Castell Sidi's Secrets

Castell Sidi is a place of faded grandeur, haunted by memories and the lingering presence of magic. Ryn and Ellis search for the cauldron, exploring halls, towers, and hidden rooms. The fortress is both a sanctuary and a tomb, filled with relics of the past and the weight of unfinished stories. Their relationship deepens, culminating in a moment of intimacy and mutual confession.

The Mother's Grief

In a cottage near the fortress, they find the cauldron guarded by a bone house—Ellis's mother. The revelation that Ellis is the resurrected child from the legend, brought back by the cauldron's magic, is devastating. The bone houses have been seeking him, drawn by the bond of love and loss. The curse is not just a random horror but the result of a mother's refusal to let go.

Breaking the Curse

To end the curse, Ryn must shatter the cauldron, risking Ellis's life. The act is an ultimate test of love and sacrifice, forcing both to confront their deepest fears. The curse is broken not by violence, but by the power of naming, memory, and acceptance. Ellis's mother is finally able to rest, and the bone houses are freed from their unnatural existence.

Homecoming and Healing

Ryn and Ellis return to Colbren, changed by their journey. The village is battered but survives, and the siblings are reunited. Debts are forgiven, the mine is reopened, and the family's place in the community is restored. Ellis chooses to stay, finding a sense of belonging and purpose. The story ends not with triumph, but with the quiet, ongoing work of living, loving, and remembering the dead.

Characters

Aderyn "Ryn"

Ryn is defined by loss, resilience, and a fierce loyalty to her family and home. Her childhood fascination with death becomes a vocation, and her practical, sometimes grim, approach to the supernatural sets her apart from the fearful villagers. Ryn's psychological journey is one of learning to let go—of her father, her guilt, and the dead she cannot save. Her relationship with Ellis is built on mutual respect, vulnerability, and the recognition of shared pain. Ryn's development is marked by her willingness to confront the past, accept help, and ultimately choose life over grief.

Ellis

Ellis is a foundling with no memory of his parents, raised as a ward of the prince but always an outsider due to his injury and mysterious origins. His chronic pain is both a physical limitation and a metaphor for his sense of not belonging. Ellis's journey is one of self-discovery: he learns he is the resurrected child at the heart of the curse, and must choose between clinging to the past or allowing himself and others to move on. His relationship with Ryn is transformative, offering him acceptance and a place to belong. Ellis's arc is about embracing his humanity, despite—or because of—his connection to death.

Gareth

Gareth is the family's anchor, managing the household's finances and trying to keep everyone safe. His weariness and caution contrast with Ryn's wildness, but his love for his sisters is unwavering. Gareth's development is subtle: he learns to trust Ryn's judgment, accept help, and let go of the past. His relationship with Ryn is marked by both conflict and deep affection.

Ceridwen "Ceri"

Ceri is the youngest sibling, outwardly sweet but quietly clever. Her bond with the goat symbolizes her capacity for love and loyalty. Ceri's innocence is tempered by loss, but she remains a source of hope and humor. Her ability to adapt and her emotional intelligence help hold the family together.

The Bone Goat

The goat, a gift from the forest, becomes a bone house after its death but remains gentle and protective. It blurs the line between monster and companion, embodying the theme that love and memory can persist beyond death. The goat's presence is both comic and poignant, a reminder that not all the dead are to be feared.

Eynon

Eynon is the local authority who exploits the villagers' poverty and dismantles their protections for personal gain. He represents the dangers of selfishness and the failure of leadership. Eynon's interactions with Ryn and Ellis highlight the social and economic pressures that shape the village's fate.

Catrin

Catrin keeps her dead mother as a bone house, refusing to let go. She embodies the seductive danger of clinging to the past and the moral ambiguity of the curse. Her confrontation with Ryn and Ellis forces them to confront their own grief and the limits of love.

Ellis's Mother (The Bone House)

Ellis's mother is the tragic heart of the story: her refusal to accept her son's death, and her use of the cauldron, set the curse in motion. Her lingering presence, even in death, is both a horror and a testament to the power of love. Her final act—letting go—breaks the curse and allows both her and Ellis to find peace.

The Bone Houses

The bone houses are not mindless monsters but echoes of the people they once were, driven by memory, love, or violence. They symbolize the dangers of refusing to accept loss and the ways in which the past can haunt the present. Their behavior is shaped by who they were in life, blurring the line between victim and threat.

The Afanc

The afanc is the monstrous guardian of Llyn Mawr, a reminder that the world of Annwvyn is shaped by ancient magic and indifferent to human concerns. Its presence is both a challenge and a symbol of the limits of human power.

Plot Devices

Dual Protagonists and Alternating Perspectives

The narrative alternates between Ryn and Ellis, allowing readers to experience the story through both a native and an outsider's eyes. This structure deepens the emotional resonance, highlights their complementary strengths and weaknesses, and builds intimacy as their relationship develops. The dual perspective also allows for dramatic irony and the gradual revelation of secrets.

Folklore and Embedded Legends

The book weaves Welsh folklore and invented legends into the narrative, using them as both exposition and thematic commentary. The tales of the cauldron, the Otherking, and the afanc are not just background—they shape the characters' beliefs, choices, and fates. The power of stories to explain, warn, and comfort is a recurring motif.

The Unreliable Boundary Between Life and Death

The central plot device is the curse that animates the dead, but the true horror is not the monsters—it is the refusal to let go. The bone houses are both threat and comfort, forcing characters to confront what it means to love, lose, and remember. The curse is ultimately broken not by violence, but by acceptance and the power of naming.

Symbolism of Iron, Wood, and Stone

Iron fences, wooden love spoons, and stone fortresses all serve as symbols of protection, memory, and the limits of human effort. Their effectiveness is questioned and subverted, reflecting the story's themes of vulnerability and the need to adapt.

Foreshadowing and Circular Structure

Early warnings, half-spoken prophecies, and the motif of the broken love spoon all foreshadow the story's resolution. The narrative circles back to its beginnings—loss, longing, and the hope of return—culminating in the reunion and release of Ellis and his mother.

Analysis

The Bone Houses is a haunting, lyrical fantasy that uses the trappings of horror—zombies, curses, and ancient magic—to explore the very human experience of loss. At its core, the novel is about the dangers of refusing to accept death, the seductive comfort of memory, and the necessity of moving forward. Ryn and Ellis are both defined by absence: a missing father, a lost past, a sense of not belonging. Their journey is not just a quest to break a curse, but a psychological odyssey through guilt, longing, and the fear of forgetting. The bone houses are not simply monsters; they are mirrors of the living, shaped by love, violence, or regret. The story's resolution—breaking the cauldron, naming the dead, and choosing to live—is a powerful affirmation that healing comes not from denial, but from acceptance. In a modern context, The Bone Houses resonates as a parable about trauma, resilience, and the courage to let go. Its lesson is both simple and profound: the dead want us to go on, and the greatest act of love is to remember—and then to live.

Last updated: April 29, 2025