Servant of the BonesServant of the Bones
Score Modern
What it's about
Azriel is a spirit, a young Jewish man from ancient Babylon who was turned into a ghost bound to a set of golden bones, forced to serve whoever owns them. In modern New York he witnesses the murder of a young woman by her father, the leader of a powerful religious cult, and sets out for revenge. He tells his story to a scholar over one night.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It's a dark, sensual fantasy that spans 2,500 years.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
It's long, with violence and sexual content.
By the numbers
- Readers6 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller28 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #306 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #553 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #1562 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2797 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Adventurous
More by Anne Rice
The Queen of the Damned
Interview with the Vampire
The Witching Hour
The Tale of the Body ThiefIf you like this, read next
Gideon the Ninth
All Systems Red
Promises in Death
Small Gods
Innocent in Death
The Blind AssassinExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Servant of the Bones worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #2,797 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 52.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Servant of the Bones about?
Azriel is a spirit, a young Jewish man from ancient Babylon who was turned into a ghost bound to a set of golden bones, forced to serve whoever owns them. In modern New York he witnesses the murder of a young woman by her father, the leader of a powerful religious cult, and sets out for revenge. He tells his story to a scholar over one night.
How long does it take to read Servant of the Bones?
About 10 hours (405 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Servant of the Bones?
If you liked it, try The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker.