Title: The Hanging Bones
Author: Elle Tesch
Page Length: 352
Pub. Date: May 12, 2026
Publisher: Fiewel & Friends
Synopsis: From the author of What Wakes the Bells comes a rich, gothic fantasy about a girl who enters a dangerous, magical hunt with the goal of winning the death of her predatory overlord. Perfect for fans of Adalyn Grace, Maggie Stiefvater, and V.E. Schwab.
Some monsters are born. Some are made. All can be killed.
Once every few years, the Scavenge Moon rises. From beyond its pale glow steps the Breimar Stag, an otherworldly creature with eyes of burning gold. Any reckless adventurer who chooses to join the hunt for the stag only has until the Scavenge Moon sets to claim their prize—if they catch it, they are granted the death of any person of their choice. And if no one catches it, the stag will claim one of the hunters’ souls instead.
Katrin has lived on the border of the forest her whole life, raised on tales of the Folk that dwell within. As a gamekeeper for the baron who rules over the region, she is saddled with the onerous task of escorting the entitled nobles who descend upon her home for the Breimar Hunt. None of them respect the forest or its legends, and Katrin is only too happy to let them risk their foolish necks for what they see as a cheap thrill.
When her beloved cousin becomes the latest target of the baron’s lecherous appetites, Katrin knows only his death will keep her family safe, and the only way she can claim his life is to win the hunt herself. But something hungry has begun to stir in the woods, something even older and more powerful than the stag. As the horrifying, mutilated bodies pile up, Katrin begins to question where the true danger lies.
I really enjoyed The Hanging Bones. It’s dark, eerie, atmospheric, with a story that completely pulls you in from the beginning with creepy forests, strange folklore, horrifying creatures, and a constant sense of dread hanging over everything.
The story is rich and atmospheric with Gothic elements, including a forest that feels alive. Between the hanging bones, the terrifying Folk creatures, and the legends surrounding the Breimar Stag, the world was immersive, and I loved all the folklore details scattered throughout the story. They made the setting seem even more ancient, dangerous, and unpredictable. Some of the descriptions are pretty graphic and gruesome, too, which worked really well with the Gothic- horror tone. This definitely leans more upper YA/adult because it does not shy away from gore, violence, and darker themes.
Katrin was such a strong main character. I loved how fierce she was and how protective she was of her family, especially Alma. Her anger and frustration throughout the story were completely understandable, especially with the Baron being such a vile person. He was awful, and every scene with him made my skin crawl. I found it interesting that the human villains in this book were just as terrifying as the monsters, and it definitely raised some thought-provoking questions about who the real monster is.
I also liked that the story focused more on family, loyalty, and survival rather than romance. The relationship between Katrin and Alma was really the focus of the book, and I loved how much Katrin cared about protecting her, and their bond made so many moments throughout the story more powerful.
For me, the pacing was a little slow at the beginning, as there was a bit of worldbuilding and folklore being established, but once the hunt began, I flew through the rest of the book. It was intense and action-packed, and super suspenseful. The stakes kept getting worse and worse, with not many dull moments for the characters. There were a couple of things near the end that wrapped up a little more neatly than I expected, but I’m a fan of everything being wrapped up in a nice little bow, so it worked for me.
- Gothic horror-fantasy
- family bonds
- Fierce FMC
Elle Tesch has lived just east of Vancouver, British Columbia her entire life. Surrounded by forests and mountains, it was inevitable that she would daydream about what might lurk in those trees. She twists places she loves and writes what she knows best: hungry monsters, casually cruel villains, and ace-spec girls in the stories they deserve.
When not writing, Elle can be found reading whatever she can get her hands on, wrestling with her current cross-stitch project, or re-watching Pride & Prejudice (2005) for the 72nd time.
