| Name | Bone Carver |
|---|---|
| Age | Unknown |
| Species | Death-God |
| Status | Deceased |
| Court | Night Court |
| Rank/Title | Old God |
| Eye Color | ever-shifting |
| Hair Color | ever-shifting |
| Family | Koschei (Brother) †, Stryga/ The Weaver (Sister) † |
| Appears in | A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin |
Contents
Biography / History
Origins & Nature
The Bone Carver is an ancient, otherworldly being whose history predates the Cauldron, the Mother, and even the formation of Prythian. When Feyre Archeron and Rhysand visit him in the Prison, he reveals fragments of his past.
He explains that he crossed dimensions from another world long ago—“falling” into this realm alongside his twin sister, Stryga, and his older brother, Koschei. All three possessed immense power by Prythian’s standards and were regarded as gods by the ancient Fae who later worshiped them out of fear. Unlike his siblings, the Bone Carver says he never took delight in such devotion.
Siblings & Power
The Bone Carver admits he is the weakest of the three siblings. His fear of Koschei and Stryga ultimately drives him into hiding. According to him, a powerful female Fae warrior—an ancient figure whose name has long been forgotten—tricked Stryga into diminishing her power, then later bound Koschei to a lake on the continent, and finally imprisoned the Bone Carver in the Prison.
He allowed himself to be confined, believing it was the only way to escape his siblings’ reach.
Imprisonment
By the events of A Court of Thorns and Roses, the Bone Carver has been held in the Prison for tens of thousands of years. Throughout Prythian, he is widely known as one of the Old Gods, a title reflecting both his age and the lingering myths surrounding him.
He speaks with unexpected fondness of the ancient female who bound him, suggesting she could have been his “salvation,” implying a deeper connection—though he also states he made his choice long before she walked the earth.
A Court of Mist and Fury
The Bone Carver is introduced when Feyre and Rhysand visit him in the Prison seeking information about Hybern’s plans. He appears to Feyre as a young dark-haired boy and questions her about her death, resurrection, and the nature of the bond she followed back to life. In exchange for answers, he demands the bone Feyre used to kill the Middengard Wyrm.
The Carver reveals that the Cauldron is being used to resurrect Jurian and can also be used to shatter the Wall. He tells them about the Book of Breathings and its two halves, providing the key knowledge needed to begin the war effort. When Feyre tries to bargain for more, he asks for her bones upon her death—then laughs, admitting Rhys would never allow it.
He remains in the Prison, refusing to fight for Prythian unless Feyre one day brings him an object powerful enough to earn his loyalty.
A Court of Wings and Ruin
Feyre visits the Bone Carver again to ask for his aid in the coming war. He refuses at first, explaining that his original world is long gone and he has no desire to return nor to fight his siblings. He only agrees to serve as her warrior if she retrieves the Ouroboros mirror, a cursed object that drives nearly all who behold it into madness. Feyre endures the challenge and brings him the mirror, proving her worth. The Carver accepts the bargain.
During the final battle, the Carver appears in a High-Fae body, wielding a great bone scimitar. Alongside Bryaxis and his twin sister, Stryga (the Weaver), he is one of the first to enter Hybern’s army, carving a path through soldiers as their bodies crumble to dust.
He obeys Feyre’s command—barely—but is eventually killed when Hybern unleashes the Cauldron’s devastating wave of heat and magic. Moments before he is reduced to ash, the Carver looks at Feyre and smiles, as though acknowledging the fate he had foreseen.
Powers & Abilities
Divination
The Bone Carver’s most feared gift is his ability to see the future, particularly the manner of a person’s death. He carves these visions into bone, accepting such bones as payment for the knowledge he shares.
Magical Perception
He possesses an innate ability to “hear on the wind” what happens in the world, giving him awareness of present events across great distances.
- Exception: He cannot see the Cauldron itself, though he can hear it.
Shapeshifting Illusion
The Bone Carver can glamour his appearance, causing each viewer to see a different form—one that often holds personal significance. His true form is never revealed in the series.
Canon examples include:
- Feyre: sees a dark-haired, violet-blue–eyed boy, later revealed to match her future son.
- Rhysand: sees Jurian.
- Cassian: sees an unknown form, never disclosed.
- Wartime form (ACOWAR): appears to Feyre as a High Fae during the battle against Hybern.
Combat Abilities
Despite his imprisonment, the Bone Carver is a deadly fighter with two known magical weapons:
- Bone Scimitar: A blade capable of turning its victims to dust upon contact.
- Dust-Breath: His breath alone can disintegrate enemies instantly.
