Book Review: Hills of Heather and Bone by K.E. Andrews
Every so often I pick up a book that makes me say “I think this author’s writing has potential, but I just can’t continue with this”. For me that was The Assassin of Grins and Secrets, a book that was clearly a labour of love, but badly burdened by editing issues and redundant descriptions that ultimately overshadowed my reading experience. I did however continue to remain interested in what the author K.E. Andrews would publish next, as the beauty of her unique ideas translated just as much into the beauty of her books, boasting stunningly crafted covers and inside illustrations.
Well if I was waiting for my faith in her work to be vindicated, Hills of Heather and Bone accomplishes exactly that. A fantasy setting full of ‘bloodgifted’ magic users acts as the stem from which the story then delivers an impressive array of romance, humour, action and emotional turmoil; and in each aspect, this book thrives.
The dynamic between Morana and Percy is full of warmth and tenderness. By having them be an already established couple, Hills of Heather and Bone is able to spend much more time exploring the dynamics of their relationship. In doing so, I got to know their personalities on a much deeper level than I’m used to experiencing in fantasy romances. Moreover, their healthy relationship gives way to an abundance of charm and quiet comedy that had me devouring pages of this book in my thirst for more.
While managing to tease out cosy vibes, conflict is still what pushes the story forward, and I’m still stuck by how well paced it all was. There’s an ebb and flow to the tension and action throughout the book that just worked so well, leaving time for small respites but never breaking the momentum. And let me just say, for something that is underpinned by its romance, Hills of Heather and Bone has no business having action scenes as thrilling as they are here. It is a testament to the book that it manages to have so many different focuses without ever feeling crowded or overdone.
I could stop there and Hills of Heather and Bone would already be a worthwhile read, but there’s still so much more to praise. It’s incredibly rare for me to come across any fantasy story that includes scenes of childbirth and breastfeeding, let alone acknowledge that those experiences even exist - yet I found it here. It came across as frank and honest without any hint of being gratuitous, which is fitting for a narrative so full of thoughtful introspection.
My only (extremely minor) complaint was the somewhat inconsistent usage of Scottish vernacular. While this is under no pretence of being set in Scotland, it does still loan a lot of words used there. I don’t have any real issue with that premise, but at times it felt odd reading characters selectively use Scottish words for some things but not others, almost like someone forgetting their accent. I can’t expect an author to perfectly imitate the full range of a real and distinct way of speaking, but this is also why I’d suggest they steer away from attempting it in the first place.
The afterword mentions that this book practically came out of nowhere, and K.E. Andrews has separately mentioned working hard to get it published in time to enter it into SPFBO 9. To me, this proves that a great book can just as easily spring from spontaneous bursts of creativity as it can from a vigorously meditated plan. I think K.E.Andrews can be just as happy with what she has written as I am with having read it.
