The Bone Orchard is a book that I should have left alone and admired from afar. Obviously, I was obsessed with the cover the moment I saw it, which led me to be intrigued by the blurb. I simply can't pass up books about sex workers! I don't know why! I knew this wasn't the kind of book that I'd pick up on my own without the influence of that cover and the promise of something different, but I checked it out anyway. I hoped it would surprise me, and that trying something new would pay off. Unfortunately, I just didn't get it.
I love the idea of Charm's boneghosts, but I didn't really understand them at all. I was lost and confused for most of The Bone Orchard. I was too focused on trying to understand Charm and her boneghosts that I never got pulled into the plot. Although admittedly the plot didn't grab my attention from the beginning as I also didn't get why the emperor would call on his mistress to find his murderer and keep his sons from inheriting. I wish I had enjoyed this one, because it does have some really awesome elements, but that's all it ended up being to me. It didn't come together in any way that made sense to me.