Cathedral of Bones by A.J. Steiger
Published by HarperCollins on February 16, 2021
ISBN: 0062934791
Pages: 368
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Goodreads

In an unknown time and equally unrecognizable location a dark fantasy develops surrounding one family and its community all tightly bound by magic.  Simon never seems to accomplish his goals or reach the potential expected by others yet he knows that he is a capable Animists.  In a defiant move Simon leaves his job and goes to rescue a village from a monster.  A coming-of-age story that is wound in fantasy and spiced by some horror; this is a story for adventurous middle grade readers.

Most of the characters are intriguing and well developed although hard to imagine.  Simon and Alice are both good and bad, the author has created a diabolical storyline that offers twist and turns. Supporting characters are less defined creating confusion.  At times this reader found that a quick perusal of a paragraph was adequate to follow the development of the plot.    Add to middle age library collections where fantasy is in demand.

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Cumberland, ME