The Bone Sculptor

The Bone Sculptor by A.S. Mink is a literary novel exploring human resilience, sacrifice, and moral dilemmas during the Nazi occupation of World War II.

During World War II, in the charming medieval town of Arnhem in Holland, a loving family strives for normalcy under Nazi occupation. Their eldest son, Kees, a sensitive young man, finds comfort in his beautiful ancient home - a fortress with thick walls and private fields - an enchanting sanctuary where he brings magical beings to life through his intricate bone carvings.

However, it’s 1941, and his magical world shatters when his father tricks him into enlisting in the SS. His Jewish friend, Ab, realises that Kees will not survive the brutality of war, so he enlists under a false identity and joins Kees on a harrowing journey to the Eastern Front.

As tensions rise, Kees finds comfort in his love for his family and his friendship with Ab. Kees carefully navigates the line between the supernatural and survival as he dreams about returning home. But everything he treasures is called into question when he receives a mysterious letter from his stepmother. The letter unveils a dark secret about Ab that turns Kees’s world upside down.

Will Kees’s magical creations be his salvation or lead to an unforeseen and shocking destiny?

For fans of The Book Thief and All the Light We Cannot See.

The Bone Sculptor was longlisted for Mslexia’s Novel Award.