HMH Books for Young Readers, 368 pp.
Published September 4, 2018
Nita doesn’t murder supernatural beings and sell their body parts on the internet—her mother does that. Nita just dissects the bodies after they’ve been “acquired.” Until her mom brings home a live specimen and Nita decides she wants out; dissecting a scared teenage boy is a step too far. But when she decides to save her mother’s victim, she ends up sold in his place—because Nita herself isn’t exactly “human.” She has the ability to alter her biology, a talent that is priceless on the black market. Now on the other side of the bars, if she wants to escape, Nita must ask herself if she’s willing to become the worst kind of monster.
Are you tired of dark, horror-inspired novels that pull their punches when it matters most? Not Even Bones should cure readers of their skepticism and lingering disappointment. Brimming with monsters and centered around the business of buying and selling their bits and pieces on the black market, it never shies away from the shadowy facets of human nature that allow such an enterprise to continue. Blood-spattered and tense, what it lacks in surprises it makes up for with a colorful world, frightening villains, and two protagonists with personality and spark.
Some main characters find their conscience tested during a narrative; organ-harvesting teenager Nita finds herself developing one instead. In order to help her mother with the business of parceling out supernatural creatures, she's learned to shut off the troublesome voice reminding her that their victims were once real people too, detaching herself from relationships with anyone outside her parents. This lack of empathy may cause problems for some readers, yet it was ultimately refreshing to watch a young woman cultivating a sympathetic nature while remaining true to her snarky, intellectual roots.
Nita has an entertaining foil in Kovit, a supernatural being that feeds off the pain of others, commonly called a zannie. The frighting nature of his kind naturally lends Kovit a fearsome reputation, although he's less inclined to indiscriminate cruelty than his biological demands might imply. Although Not Even Bones moves too quickly to concern itself with romance, the pair has an immediate chemistry that should play out well, regardless of its direction, in future installments.
Learning the bounds and terminology of Schaeffer's alternate reality has a bit of a steep learning curve. Some creatures have familiar names and abilities that match closely with the mythology we already know, while others require a little more explanation. After a brief introductory period, however, everything hums along quite nicely. Not Even Bones never excuses the darkness inherent to its world or plot, embracing the horror of its creations and the actions required to stay alive in their presence. The most squeamish of readers may want to give some thought to exploring further, but most of those intrigued by the premise should find themselves satisfied that it follows through on the tone promised by the synopsis.
Although Not Even Bones' greatest strengths lie in its atmosphere and central characters, it makes use of a couple of respectable twists in order to maintain interest in a series-spanning story. Its only weakness comes from the prose, often too simplistic to hold my attention for long periods of time. I would frequently find myself skimming paragraphs or chapters simply because the language and style couldn't hold my attention. This mismatch kept the book from becoming a runaway success, although Schaeffer's excellent character development and world-building already have me anxious for the sequel. Horror fans hungering for darkness without incessant bleakness will find their tastes amply satisfied in this confident debut.
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