The Sins On Their Bones

The thing about second world fantasy that blows my mind every time is that the writer can literally bypass or ignore every single hegemonic norm about the world we currently live in. Since the book is not set in the world we inhabit, nor bogged down by our history, it has the potentially to be something entirely. In her debut adult fantasy The Sins On Their Bones, Laura R. Samotin looks past reheated Christian hegemony and cis het norms to build a world that is both distinctly Jewish and very queer norm. The result is an immersive and transporting experience. 

Readers do not need any prior knowledge of Judaism to understand the story, but those that have some Jewish background can appreciate that every town in this very Russian feeling setting has a shul and a Rebbe rather than a church and a priest. Several ceremonies, including those for the sabbath and weddings, are mentioned. Plus, a host of Jewish mythological creatures come out to play. Again, all of this is explained. Familiarity with dybbuks is not required. It is simply refreshing to see a back drop that does not assume we are all familiar with Christian traditions. 

In addition, in the world of The Sins On Their Bones, being queer is just a thing that is, not a thing that breaks societal norms. In fact, the main plot revolves around two husbands – a tzar overthrown by his abusive spouse who has now used a form of demonology to make himself immortal and usurp the throne. The deposed spouse, Dimitri, has a devoted court that includes a non-binary physician, a female identifying general, a chancellor/tactician that read as ace to me, and a spy master that read to me as either as bi or pan sexual (these identities are never specified outright so I could be wrong). Dimitri is falling for the spy master, but the two men both carry emotional scars that keep them from expressing their feelings. 

When things heat up back in their home country, Dimitri and his court must send the spy master back to gather intel while figuring out how to kill Dimitri’s now immortal spouse. My favorite part of the ensuing shenanigans is the very bizarre library they must consult which comes complete with a prophetic talking head. I could have set an entire book in that delightful place, but we all know I have a penchant for the strange. 

This is a m/m romance with a fair amount of m/m sex in it. It also about about trauma recovery, so not all of that sex is healthy. Readers who might be triggered should pay careful attention to the content warnings. The central love story is one of healing, trust, and triumph over past abuse, but as the title suggests, the characters pasts are so very integrated into their present it might as well be written on their bones. 

I found myself sinking into this world, to this culture, that was so welcoming to me. It has its wealth equality problems and abuses of power just like any other, but Samotin has created a space that feels unique from the world we live in. She imagines what life might be like with something other than our current worlds status quo in charge. Sure, Dimitri might have to fend off his resurrected demon husband, but at least nobody questions why he has a husband in the first place. It is the potential of second world fantasy come to fruition – a place where we can all become whole again.

BookishlyJewish received an ARC of this book from the publisher

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Our Interview with Laura R. Samotin can be found here.