The Bone Sculptor, A.S. Mink’s new historical novel, delves into the themes of human resilience, sacrifice, and moral dilemmas during the Nazi occupation in World War II. 

The novel is set in the charming medieval town of Arnhem in Holland during WW2, where a close-knit family grapples with maintaining normalcy under Nazi rule. The eldest son, Kees, a sensitive young man, finds comfort in his family’s ancient home – a fortress with thick walls and private fields – an enchanting sanctuary where he brings magical creatures to life through his intricate bone carvings. 

However, in 1941, his magical world shatters when his father, a fanatic Nazi, deceives him into enlisting in the SS. His Jewish friend, Ab, realises that Kees won’t survive the brutality of war, so he joins under a false identity and accompanies Kees to the Eastern Front. 

As tensions rise, Kees finds solace in his friendship with Ab and his love for his family. He skillfully navigates the fine line between the supernatural and survival as he yearns to return home. But everything he holds dear is thrown into chaos when he receives a cryptic letter from his stepmother, unveiling 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?