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Near the Bone
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Horror (2021)A woman trapped on a mountain attempts to survive more than one kind of monster, in a dread-inducing horror novel from the national bestselling author Christina Henry.
Mattie can't remember a time before she and William lived alone on a mountain together. She must never make him upset. But when Mattie discovers the mutilated body of a fox in the woods, she realizes that they're not alone after all.
There's something in the woods that wasn't there before, something that makes strange cries in the night, something with sharp teeth and claws.
When three strangers appear on the mountaintop looking for the creature in the woods, Mattie knows their presence will anger William. Terrible things happen when William is angry.
Mattie can't remember a time before she and William lived alone on a mountain together. She must never make him upset. But when Mattie discovers the mutilated body of a fox in the woods, she realizes that they're not alone after all.
There's something in the woods that wasn't there before, something that makes strange cries in the night, something with sharp teeth and claws.
When three strangers appear on the mountaintop looking for the creature in the woods, Mattie knows their presence will anger William. Terrible things happen when William is angry.
321 pages, Paperback
First published April 13, 2021
About the author
Christina Henry
55 books7,697 followersChristina Henry is a horror and dark fantasy author whose works include GOOD GIRLS DON'T DIE, HORSEMAN, NEAR THE BONE, THE GHOST TREE, LOOKING GLASS, THE GIRL IN RED, THE MERMAID, LOST BOY, RED QUEEN, ALICE, and the seven book urban fantasy BLACK WINGS series.
Her short stories have been featured in the anthologies CURSED, TWICE CURSED, GIVING THE DEVIL HIS DUE and KICKING IT.
She enjoys running long distances, reading anything she can get her hands on and watching movies with samurai, zombies and/or subtitles in her spare time. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son.
You can visit her on the web at
www.christinahenry.net
Facebook: authorChristinaHenry
Threads: authorChristinaHenry
Instagram: authorChristinaHenry
Goodreads: goodreads.com/CHenryAuthor
Her short stories have been featured in the anthologies CURSED, TWICE CURSED, GIVING THE DEVIL HIS DUE and KICKING IT.
She enjoys running long distances, reading anything she can get her hands on and watching movies with samurai, zombies and/or subtitles in her spare time. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son.
You can visit her on the web at
www.christinahenry.net
Facebook: authorChristinaHenry
Threads: authorChristinaHenry
Instagram: authorChristinaHenry
Goodreads: goodreads.com/CHenryAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,042 reviews
April 28, 2021
This was so freaking good. This book is so atmospheric and creepy and AMAZING. I can’t imagine being stuck on this snowy mountain with this abusive asshole and also dealing with the fact that there’s a super scary monster / creature roaming around out there. This is exactly the kind of shit I love in horror books: fear of the unknown. This book reminded me of so many other books I’ve loved, like Bird Box and Room. This book made me feel like I was right there on that mountain, and it was soooo suspenseful I was gripped from start to finish. I felt so much for Mattie as a main character and I can’t believe all the shit she went through in this book, it’s unimaginable.
Here’s the reading vlog where I read this book: https://youtu.be/ByZvXPeSUB4
Here’s the reading vlog where I read this book: https://youtu.be/ByZvXPeSUB4
May 8, 2024
For as long as Mattie can remember, she has lived on the mountain, in a desolate cabin with her overbearing husband, William.
William is brutal in his treatment of Mattie, saying it's his job to make her a dutiful wife. She is terrified of him and feels hopeless. There is no way out for her.
Let's pause for a moment, shall we.
Trigger Warning for abuse; pretty much any kind of abuse you can imagine. If this is a topic that is at all sensitive for you, please proceed with caution.
On the day that Mattie discovers a mutilated fox near their cabin, everything begins to change.
There's something else in the woods. Mattie can sense it. They're no longer alone.
Sure enough, strangers soon appear on the mountain searching for the mysterious creature.
Mattie is desperate for them to leave. William will get so angry that they're there and bad things happen when William gets angry.
Near the Bone is one of those delicious Horror novels that it is best to start reading knowing as little as possible.
Going into this, I had only read the publisher's synopsis, which they kept incredibly vague. Kudos on that.
After the first, say 20-pages, I thought it was one thing. Then there was one line, one little hint, where I perked up and thought, this isn't going to be what I thought at all.
I love those little trickeries. Perhaps it wasn't even intentional, but it flipped everything I assumed about the story on its head and left me with an anguished need to know more.
The rest of the story unfolding was well-crafted. Particularly, the pace at which the truth behind Mattie's relationship with William is revealed. I would definitely classify this as Survival Horror, a subgenre I tend to really enjoy.
Certain aspects of this reminded me of the themes in Adam Nevill's The Ritual; a book I also enjoyed quite a bit.
That whole examination of the idea of 'better the devil you know, than the devil you don't'. Additionally, a bit of Mattie's character arc made me think of dear, Rosie Daniels.
It was an intense, bloody mess at times. My toes were curling, my heart was racing and I appreciated how Henry wrapped it up.
There were a couple of little things where I felt like I may have wanted a bit more out of the narrative, but overall, this is a great freaking story!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review.
I love the way Christina Henry's mind works. She's brilliant and I will continue to pick up everything she writes until the end of time.
William is brutal in his treatment of Mattie, saying it's his job to make her a dutiful wife. She is terrified of him and feels hopeless. There is no way out for her.
Let's pause for a moment, shall we.
Trigger Warning for abuse; pretty much any kind of abuse you can imagine. If this is a topic that is at all sensitive for you, please proceed with caution.
On the day that Mattie discovers a mutilated fox near their cabin, everything begins to change.
There's something else in the woods. Mattie can sense it. They're no longer alone.
Sure enough, strangers soon appear on the mountain searching for the mysterious creature.
Mattie is desperate for them to leave. William will get so angry that they're there and bad things happen when William gets angry.
Near the Bone is one of those delicious Horror novels that it is best to start reading knowing as little as possible.
Going into this, I had only read the publisher's synopsis, which they kept incredibly vague. Kudos on that.
After the first, say 20-pages, I thought it was one thing. Then there was one line, one little hint, where I perked up and thought, this isn't going to be what I thought at all.
I love those little trickeries. Perhaps it wasn't even intentional, but it flipped everything I assumed about the story on its head and left me with an anguished need to know more.
The rest of the story unfolding was well-crafted. Particularly, the pace at which the truth behind Mattie's relationship with William is revealed. I would definitely classify this as Survival Horror, a subgenre I tend to really enjoy.
Certain aspects of this reminded me of the themes in Adam Nevill's The Ritual; a book I also enjoyed quite a bit.
That whole examination of the idea of 'better the devil you know, than the devil you don't'. Additionally, a bit of Mattie's character arc made me think of dear, Rosie Daniels.
It was an intense, bloody mess at times. My toes were curling, my heart was racing and I appreciated how Henry wrapped it up.
There were a couple of little things where I felt like I may have wanted a bit more out of the narrative, but overall, this is a great freaking story!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review.
I love the way Christina Henry's mind works. She's brilliant and I will continue to pick up everything she writes until the end of time.
May 12, 2021
“We came up here to do some research and now we’re in a horror movie with a monster and an unkillable redneck with a gun.”
Holy shit! What a ride!
A gripping thriller/horror with supernatural elements.
Mattie has lived with William for as long as she can remember. Anything she remembers from before is clearly just made up in her head. William says she is his wife and must obey him in all things - he punishes her if she doesn’t.
They live in a cabin in the mountains, Mattie is not allowed to leave the cabin for any reason. But when William notices tracks larger than any animal he has ever seen - he believes it is a test. He must kill this beast.
Christina Henry builds the suspense really well. I was never sure what to be more afraid of - the beast or William the psychopath.
It leads to an adrenaline fuelled climax. My only gripe is
I was gripped - that is the most important part.
***********************
Whoops - pay day treat to myself!
Honestly I have a problem 🤷♀️
***************************
If Christina Henry writes it then I will read it.
Holy shit! What a ride!
A gripping thriller/horror with supernatural elements.
Mattie has lived with William for as long as she can remember. Anything she remembers from before is clearly just made up in her head. William says she is his wife and must obey him in all things - he punishes her if she doesn’t.
They live in a cabin in the mountains, Mattie is not allowed to leave the cabin for any reason. But when William notices tracks larger than any animal he has ever seen - he believes it is a test. He must kill this beast.
Christina Henry builds the suspense really well. I was never sure what to be more afraid of - the beast or William the psychopath.
It leads to an adrenaline fuelled climax. My only gripe is
I was gripped - that is the most important part.
***********************
Whoops - pay day treat to myself!
Honestly I have a problem 🤷♀️
***************************
If Christina Henry writes it then I will read it.
July 17, 2022
“Only humans enjoy the fears of others”
Mattie has lived on the mountain with William for a long time. She has learned to survive while making him angry as little as possible. One day Mattie discovers the mutilated body of a fox in the woods and suspects they aren't alone anymore. Additionally, three strangers appear on the mountain looking for the creature. Mattie knows the strangers' presence will only enrage William and she fears that, between the creature and William, none of them will live another day.
I’m about ready to give up on new popular horror. This was so disappointing. Weak writing and boring characters. Anticlimactic and repetitive. I had such high hopes for this one. The quote I used is the only thing I liked about this book.
Mattie has lived on the mountain with William for a long time. She has learned to survive while making him angry as little as possible. One day Mattie discovers the mutilated body of a fox in the woods and suspects they aren't alone anymore. Additionally, three strangers appear on the mountain looking for the creature. Mattie knows the strangers' presence will only enrage William and she fears that, between the creature and William, none of them will live another day.
I’m about ready to give up on new popular horror. This was so disappointing. Weak writing and boring characters. Anticlimactic and repetitive. I had such high hopes for this one. The quote I used is the only thing I liked about this book.
March 13, 2021
Survival is the name of the game!
Mattie is trapped on a mountain trying to survive -- from what and from whom?
Mattie cannot remember a time before she and her husband William lived on the mountain. But what she does remember is not to make her husband upset - EVER! When she finds the mutilated body of a fox in the woods, they begin to suspect that perhaps they are not alone on the mountain after all. Soon Mattie and William hear noises in the night - loud shrill noises. The forest gets quiet. Sshhh...do not make a sound! The animals know something is not right. Survive.
Soon three strangers show up, with cameras, investigating a strange sighting in the woods. They say they are cryptozoologists in their spare time. Mattie knows their appearance on the mountain will go over like a lead balloon with her husband. He has the whole Hulk vibe "you wouldn't like me when I'm angry."
Near the Bone had me from page one. While some are calling this a simple story, I think it is a straightforward story about monsters. The part that grabbed me the most was not knowing. The author, for most of the book, allows the readers imagination to take over. Nothing is scarier than the monster we create in our mind. We do not know what is really out there. Is it a bear? If not a bear, what? Is it some other creature? Why, what big claws you have!
Be warned as I stated above there is more than one monster in the book. One we know of right from the beginning and one that is lurking, out of sight, watching, waiting, choosing the right time...... Which monster is the scariest? The monster in front of us or the one hidden in the darkness?
This book does deal with uncomfortable and heartbreaking issues including domestic violence.
There is more but I will leave it at that.
This book sucked me in, chewed me up, and spit me out. I believe may be polarizing for some. For me, I loved the themes of survival and monsters. I also had Mattie to root for. I clung to hope, silently wishing she would survive. But will she? Will any of them make it off the mountain?
Be afraid of things that go bump (shriek, howl, bellow) in the night!
This was my first book by Christina Henry, and I look forward to reading more of her books. This really hit the spot and proved to be a fast, dark, and creepy read.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Mattie is trapped on a mountain trying to survive -- from what and from whom?
Mattie cannot remember a time before she and her husband William lived on the mountain. But what she does remember is not to make her husband upset - EVER! When she finds the mutilated body of a fox in the woods, they begin to suspect that perhaps they are not alone on the mountain after all. Soon Mattie and William hear noises in the night - loud shrill noises. The forest gets quiet. Sshhh...do not make a sound! The animals know something is not right. Survive.
Soon three strangers show up, with cameras, investigating a strange sighting in the woods. They say they are cryptozoologists in their spare time. Mattie knows their appearance on the mountain will go over like a lead balloon with her husband. He has the whole Hulk vibe "you wouldn't like me when I'm angry."
Near the Bone had me from page one. While some are calling this a simple story, I think it is a straightforward story about monsters. The part that grabbed me the most was not knowing. The author, for most of the book, allows the readers imagination to take over. Nothing is scarier than the monster we create in our mind. We do not know what is really out there. Is it a bear? If not a bear, what? Is it some other creature? Why, what big claws you have!
Be warned as I stated above there is more than one monster in the book. One we know of right from the beginning and one that is lurking, out of sight, watching, waiting, choosing the right time...... Which monster is the scariest? The monster in front of us or the one hidden in the darkness?
This book does deal with uncomfortable and heartbreaking issues including domestic violence.
There is more but I will leave it at that.
This book sucked me in, chewed me up, and spit me out. I believe may be polarizing for some. For me, I loved the themes of survival and monsters. I also had Mattie to root for. I clung to hope, silently wishing she would survive. But will she? Will any of them make it off the mountain?
Be afraid of things that go bump (shriek, howl, bellow) in the night!
This was my first book by Christina Henry, and I look forward to reading more of her books. This really hit the spot and proved to be a fast, dark, and creepy read.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
May 12, 2022
**3.5**
Mattie and William live on a mountain alone. William is an abusive twat that deserves to die several times over. Poor Mattie is a literal walking punching bag. One day she comes across a shredded dead fox when checking snares. She quickly realizes something else not human, not quite animal, has moved in on the mountain. Do you think William is grateful for this information? Of course not because Mattie is not supposed to have thoughts or ideas not sanctioned by his majesty. To make matters worse, outsiders are now looking for the creature. So, between black eyes and an intelligent being, Mattie has to find a way to survive.
It missed being 4 star because there is no explanation about the creature. You're just left hanging out there.
Mattie and William live on a mountain alone. William is an abusive twat that deserves to die several times over. Poor Mattie is a literal walking punching bag. One day she comes across a shredded dead fox when checking snares. She quickly realizes something else not human, not quite animal, has moved in on the mountain. Do you think William is grateful for this information? Of course not because Mattie is not supposed to have thoughts or ideas not sanctioned by his majesty. To make matters worse, outsiders are now looking for the creature. So, between black eyes and an intelligent being, Mattie has to find a way to survive.
It missed being 4 star because there is no explanation about the creature. You're just left hanging out there.
April 21, 2021
My biggest gripe with thrillers these days is the way characters react to things. So when a human heart gets thrown at them and they look at each other and then say “hey, wanna make some grilled cheese?” I can’t take it seriously XD Also one of the most abrupt endings I've ever read. You get answers to absolutely nothing.
Review to come on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/hollyheartsbooks
Review to come on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/hollyheartsbooks
October 13, 2022
**Spoiler warning!**
HOLY HORROR! This one is awesome.
From the minute Samantha, (or Martha or Mattie), is kidnapped from her bedroom when she is eight years old until the unbelievable escape 12 years later, her life is controlled by a freak who says she is his wife. She never sees another person until three scientists come to investigate a reported monster that inhabits a cave nearby.
With a crazy husband, a shell of an abused child, three strangers disturbing the scene, and a monster on the loose in the middle of winter, the horror that ensues is sheer terror. Not for the faint of heart, but this horror adventure is riveting!
Christina Henry puts this all together in an amazingly well-written story that somehow seems totally believable. The atmosphere and the fear are almost palpable. The “monster” is never explained, but it is not meant to be. That mystery is not revealed, only to leave the reader with a sense that there is still some unexplained horror prevailing in the woods.
The writing is amazingly descriptive and will grab you at the beginning and hold you until the end.
Scary story, well told. 5 stars for me!
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
HOLY HORROR! This one is awesome.
From the minute Samantha, (or Martha or Mattie), is kidnapped from her bedroom when she is eight years old until the unbelievable escape 12 years later, her life is controlled by a freak who says she is his wife. She never sees another person until three scientists come to investigate a reported monster that inhabits a cave nearby.
With a crazy husband, a shell of an abused child, three strangers disturbing the scene, and a monster on the loose in the middle of winter, the horror that ensues is sheer terror. Not for the faint of heart, but this horror adventure is riveting!
Christina Henry puts this all together in an amazingly well-written story that somehow seems totally believable. The atmosphere and the fear are almost palpable. The “monster” is never explained, but it is not meant to be. That mystery is not revealed, only to leave the reader with a sense that there is still some unexplained horror prevailing in the woods.
The writing is amazingly descriptive and will grab you at the beginning and hold you until the end.
Scary story, well told. 5 stars for me!
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
March 5, 2021
4.0 Stars
This was such an engrossing horror novel! After reading several of her novels, I have come to realize that Christina Henry knows how to tell a good story and she proved it again with this new release, Near the Bone.
This is the kind of horror novel that will really appeal to thriller readers like myself who love the tropes surrounding kidnapping stories. Mattie is a compelling protagonist who is stunted by her early captivity and clearly suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. Her social and educational deficiencies made sense, but it did make it a bit frustrating to read from her perspective at times.
Yet while this story will appeal to thriller readers, this book should definitely be classified as horror. I loved the narrative choice to "hide" much of the horror from the reader, which made it so much more suspenseful and psychological. I was gripped into the story from the very beginning and it held my attention the entire time.
In terms of a story, this one was fairly simple, yet very effective. I thought the ending was very predictable. While not the most innovative story, it still made for a very enjoyable read. Like the author's previous horror novel, The Ghost Tree, I found this one to be very accessible. This would be a great place to start for readers looking to get into the horror genre. I always appreciate that Henry avoids the kinds of problematic content that often plagues the genre.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. I would widely recommend it to both new and seasoned horror readers alike. If you are looking to get wrapped up in a thrilling supernatural tale of survival, then this is an excellent one to pick up.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was such an engrossing horror novel! After reading several of her novels, I have come to realize that Christina Henry knows how to tell a good story and she proved it again with this new release, Near the Bone.
This is the kind of horror novel that will really appeal to thriller readers like myself who love the tropes surrounding kidnapping stories. Mattie is a compelling protagonist who is stunted by her early captivity and clearly suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. Her social and educational deficiencies made sense, but it did make it a bit frustrating to read from her perspective at times.
Yet while this story will appeal to thriller readers, this book should definitely be classified as horror. I loved the narrative choice to "hide" much of the horror from the reader, which made it so much more suspenseful and psychological. I was gripped into the story from the very beginning and it held my attention the entire time.
In terms of a story, this one was fairly simple, yet very effective. I thought the ending was very predictable. While not the most innovative story, it still made for a very enjoyable read. Like the author's previous horror novel, The Ghost Tree, I found this one to be very accessible. This would be a great place to start for readers looking to get into the horror genre. I always appreciate that Henry avoids the kinds of problematic content that often plagues the genre.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. I would widely recommend it to both new and seasoned horror readers alike. If you are looking to get wrapped up in a thrilling supernatural tale of survival, then this is an excellent one to pick up.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
June 7, 2021
This book . . . .
I feel like I’ve been on the library list for six months (and I know I requested it be purchased after getting denied an ARC) so this was a massive disappointment.
Near the Bone is half Elizabeth Smart kidnapping and half . . . .
And the story itself?????
Don’t even get me started on the godawful dialogue. Or the fact that someone’s arm can be ripped off and they are in shock and unable to move one minute, but then somehow manage to get a second wind and become not only completely cognizant but also able to run/drive a car/etc. And apparently this wasn’t marketed as YA???? ‘Cause it’s real turrrrrible YA.
I mean I understand being a new(ish) author who wants to strike while the iron is hot, but man oh man this was just not good. I really loved Alice, The Girl In Red and The Lost Boy and have high hopes The Horseman will follow suit. Henry’s niche is obviously dark retellings – maybe she should stick in the genre where she creates magic.
I feel like I’ve been on the library list for six months (and I know I requested it be purchased after getting denied an ARC) so this was a massive disappointment.
Near the Bone is half Elizabeth Smart kidnapping and half . . . .
And the story itself?????
Don’t even get me started on the godawful dialogue. Or the fact that someone’s arm can be ripped off and they are in shock and unable to move one minute, but then somehow manage to get a second wind and become not only completely cognizant but also able to run/drive a car/etc. And apparently this wasn’t marketed as YA???? ‘Cause it’s real turrrrrible YA.
I mean I understand being a new(ish) author who wants to strike while the iron is hot, but man oh man this was just not good. I really loved Alice, The Girl In Red and The Lost Boy and have high hopes The Horseman will follow suit. Henry’s niche is obviously dark retellings – maybe she should stick in the genre where she creates magic.
Read
May 12, 2021DNF @ 26% - no rating
I'm so glad this was an Overdrive loan. This is my 2nd Christina Henry book and my last Christina Henry book.
This is an author that simply isn't for me.
I'm so glad this was an Overdrive loan. This is my 2nd Christina Henry book and my last Christina Henry book.
This is an author that simply isn't for me.
May 4, 2022
Every time I think I can't possibly love Christina Henry even more, she releases another book that blows me away and proves me wrong. Near the Bone is quite possibly my favorite thing I've read from her so far, and I can easily see it landing in my favorite books of the year list. This book was shocking, captivating, and utterly unputdownable — literally, I wasn't even willing to take a break for dinner until I finished it, and ended up inhaling the entire book in one sitting because I was so drawn in that I had to know what would happen next right this moment.
Near the Bone is a tough read at its core, as it follows Mattie, a woman who is trapped in a brutal marriage that is abusive in every possible sense of the word. Christina Henry doesn't shy away from showing the ugly details, but it never feels overly gratuitous, either (and the sexual abuse is off-page, which many readers like myself will undoubtedly appreciate).Mattie is beaten down, but not broken, and her spirit is incredibly brave beneath the veneer of timidity she displays to keep herself safe. I loved Mattie so much and I think that's a big part of why Near the Bone held me captive so well: I needed Mattie to make it, and I couldn't look away until her fate played out.
This is a monster story, sure — there's a fantastic, eerie creature that stalks the residents and animals of the secluded mountain Mattie lives on — but I would caution readers not to go into this story expecting a full-blown creature feature. At its core, Near the Bone strikes me more as a commentary on abuse than anything else: the world abuse survivors live in, the ways that abuse can create a fear and trauma that stalks their daily life, and the reactions on-lookers have, whether it's victim-blaming, or undying love and support.
I have more I want to say, but all of it is spoiler-y, so click the tag at your own risk:
Back to the point, though: truly, I adored every single page of this heart-wrenching, suspenseful read. With a heroine I cheered for every step of the way, a villain I loathed with every fiber of my being, and a beautiful, intense wintry scenery that gave me chills despite the warmth and safety of my home, Christina Henry absolutely blew away every (already high) expectation I had and made Near the Bone a powerful and memorable story that I already can't wait to re-visit.
✨ Representation: a side character is Asian (briefly mentioned)
✨ Content warnings for:
I read a final copy I was gifted by a loved one, but for the sake of disclosure, I was also sent an early review copy by the publisher.
———
twitter | booktok | bookstagram | blog
Near the Bone is a tough read at its core, as it follows Mattie, a woman who is trapped in a brutal marriage that is abusive in every possible sense of the word. Christina Henry doesn't shy away from showing the ugly details, but it never feels overly gratuitous, either (and the sexual abuse is off-page, which many readers like myself will undoubtedly appreciate).Mattie is beaten down, but not broken, and her spirit is incredibly brave beneath the veneer of timidity she displays to keep herself safe. I loved Mattie so much and I think that's a big part of why Near the Bone held me captive so well: I needed Mattie to make it, and I couldn't look away until her fate played out.
This is a monster story, sure — there's a fantastic, eerie creature that stalks the residents and animals of the secluded mountain Mattie lives on — but I would caution readers not to go into this story expecting a full-blown creature feature. At its core, Near the Bone strikes me more as a commentary on abuse than anything else: the world abuse survivors live in, the ways that abuse can create a fear and trauma that stalks their daily life, and the reactions on-lookers have, whether it's victim-blaming, or undying love and support.
I have more I want to say, but all of it is spoiler-y, so click the tag at your own risk:
Back to the point, though: truly, I adored every single page of this heart-wrenching, suspenseful read. With a heroine I cheered for every step of the way, a villain I loathed with every fiber of my being, and a beautiful, intense wintry scenery that gave me chills despite the warmth and safety of my home, Christina Henry absolutely blew away every (already high) expectation I had and made Near the Bone a powerful and memorable story that I already can't wait to re-visit.
✨ Representation: a side character is Asian (briefly mentioned)
✨ Content warnings for:
I read a final copy I was gifted by a loved one, but for the sake of disclosure, I was also sent an early review copy by the publisher.
———
twitter | booktok | bookstagram | blog
November 27, 2021
I had to skim a fair amount of this novel. SO MUCH VIOLENCE!!!! Physical, mental, emotional.
I also didn't enjoy the writing style. It seemed a bit simplistic, as if the story were being narrated by a middle grade student as opposed to a 20 year old woman.
Mattie's about face when she'd finally had enough did not ring true for me. The characters in this novel were hollow beings that had labels in my mind like: victim, abductor/abuser/mentally ill tormentor, collateral damage bit actors, rescuers, MONSTER LURKING IN THE DARK.
I kept thinking: is this a middle grade novel after all, as opposed to a horror novel geared to an adult readership? It certainly felt like a middle grade (or lower!) novel, as I have said before.
I also abhorred the MANY graphic descriptions of violence in this book. Wish I had passed on it because the uneven "dumbed down" writing wasn't up to doing any justice to this plot line.
I'm rating this a 2.75 out of 5, rounded up to a 3, just because I am feeling generous today.
January 11, 2022
reading vlog: https://youtu.be/AXpfik6Q72g
How dare you sideline Sasquatch??
He has main character energy and was seriously under utilized in this book.
The wife/daughter/wtf storyline was interesting but you can't have Big Foot involved and expect me to care about anything else. Hello? Bring Big Foot back. Nobody cares about your marital problems when a cryptid is literally at the door!
How dare you sideline Sasquatch??
He has main character energy and was seriously under utilized in this book.
The wife/daughter/wtf storyline was interesting but you can't have Big Foot involved and expect me to care about anything else. Hello? Bring Big Foot back. Nobody cares about your marital problems when a cryptid is literally at the door!
April 18, 2021
Audio - 3.75 Stars
Story - 1.5 Star
Too much of the story was the inner thoughts of the herione which I found to be dull and repetitive. As far as horror goes, it failed. I used the audio to lull me to sleep...that should say it all.
Story - 1.5 Star
Too much of the story was the inner thoughts of the herione which I found to be dull and repetitive. As far as horror goes, it failed. I used the audio to lull me to sleep...that should say it all.
July 17, 2022
Trigger warning:
If you're easily triggered about crimes against women proceed with caution if you are going to read this book. Honestly, I'd suggest you don't read it at all.
Maddie is stuck on a mountain with two monsters. One her "husband" and two an unidentified creature. Three strangers stick their necks out to help her and pay the consequences.Its a very dark and moody read that touches on some serious topics. The ending could be considered "happy" but really not so much. More like triumphant.
Not a true horror novel in my opinion but I wouldn't know what to call it. Don't get me wrong there was horror but two types. The very real type and the made up type.
I see horror as a genre about things that go bump in the night or inhuman slashers. Creepy ,goosebump giving,sometimes gory stories that startle and scare. That was in this book but there were also some very real horrific issues in there too. Maybe that's why it works. If you can stomach it. A solid 3.5 stars.
If you're easily triggered about crimes against women proceed with caution if you are going to read this book. Honestly, I'd suggest you don't read it at all.
Maddie is stuck on a mountain with two monsters. One her "husband" and two an unidentified creature. Three strangers stick their necks out to help her and pay the consequences.Its a very dark and moody read that touches on some serious topics. The ending could be considered "happy" but really not so much. More like triumphant.
Not a true horror novel in my opinion but I wouldn't know what to call it. Don't get me wrong there was horror but two types. The very real type and the made up type.
I see horror as a genre about things that go bump in the night or inhuman slashers. Creepy ,goosebump giving,sometimes gory stories that startle and scare. That was in this book but there were also some very real horrific issues in there too. Maybe that's why it works. If you can stomach it. A solid 3.5 stars.
February 16, 2021
There is a lot going on here, but weirdly I find myself wishing it had still flexed more plot muscle despite having at least three plots. I liked the pitch but I didn't love the execution.
The one plot that does dive in deep here is Mattie and her origin story. When we meet her we immediately know things are not right. It isn't just that her husband is overprotective, it isn't just that she's isolated, after just a few pages it's clear that this is Not a Good Situation. I would have liked a slower rollout, as you move further into the book the flashbacks go on far too long and can get repetitive, it would have been nice not to have most of that insight a third of the way into the book.
Into this Not Good Situation comes two other things, one potentially good and one very bad. There is a monster, which is obviously the bad thing. But there are also some monster hunters (they call them cryptids, so yeah, those kinda guys) who could be a way out for Mattie, but could also provoke her husband into violence against her or against them.
The main issue I had with this book is that we don't really build up to anything. We just repeat a few variations on the same encounter. The Evil Husband is the kind of unstoppable evil we often find in horror, which is a concept I think someone could really play around with, but while it works very well in the first half, in the second half it almost disappears. The Monster plot seems to just show up when things are getting too easy. And somehow we spend tons of time just sitting in a cabin doing nothing. The pacing felt off to me, and while I do like horror to raise and then diffuse tension, neither worked the way I wanted. It took me a long time to read, much longer than I expected at first. Great pitch, just lacked follow through.
This is horror, so I know lots of folks don't bother with content warnings but I will still let you know that the violence here is quite detailed. There is also domestic violence (obvi) and sexual assault (also obvi) but I think it's worth noting for the record. Also dead animals.
The one plot that does dive in deep here is Mattie and her origin story. When we meet her we immediately know things are not right. It isn't just that her husband is overprotective, it isn't just that she's isolated, after just a few pages it's clear that this is Not a Good Situation. I would have liked a slower rollout, as you move further into the book the flashbacks go on far too long and can get repetitive, it would have been nice not to have most of that insight a third of the way into the book.
Into this Not Good Situation comes two other things, one potentially good and one very bad. There is a monster, which is obviously the bad thing. But there are also some monster hunters (they call them cryptids, so yeah, those kinda guys) who could be a way out for Mattie, but could also provoke her husband into violence against her or against them.
The main issue I had with this book is that we don't really build up to anything. We just repeat a few variations on the same encounter. The Evil Husband is the kind of unstoppable evil we often find in horror, which is a concept I think someone could really play around with, but while it works very well in the first half, in the second half it almost disappears. The Monster plot seems to just show up when things are getting too easy. And somehow we spend tons of time just sitting in a cabin doing nothing. The pacing felt off to me, and while I do like horror to raise and then diffuse tension, neither worked the way I wanted. It took me a long time to read, much longer than I expected at first. Great pitch, just lacked follow through.
This is horror, so I know lots of folks don't bother with content warnings but I will still let you know that the violence here is quite detailed. There is also domestic violence (obvi) and sexual assault (also obvi) but I think it's worth noting for the record. Also dead animals.
October 21, 2022
MONSTERS AND MONSTERS AND MONSTERS AND MONSTERS ARE WHAT LITTLE SPOOKTOBERS ARE MADE OF
November 18, 2023
Mattie can’t remember how long or when she started living with her husband in the snowy mountains, all she knows is her husband sees it as his “duty” to punish her when she gets things wrong or does things wrong.
It’s “wrong” when he says it’s wrong !
Not only living in the snowy mountains is it terrifying being shut off from the world but also with an abusive husband BUT now Maggie is convinced there is someone or something in the dark woods. It’s terrifying.
Maggie is frightened of her very violent husband and there is literally no way out from her torment, plus her husband has changed. And not for the better.
My first book by this author and this is creepy, made me anxious, heart pounding and I was totally biting my nails……it’s oh so good.
I preferred reading the book than on audio. The narrator wasn’t for me she came over as trying to hard. But that’s my point of view.
Definitely going to seek out more books from her when I don’t want to sleep peacefully at night!
It’s “wrong” when he says it’s wrong !
Not only living in the snowy mountains is it terrifying being shut off from the world but also with an abusive husband BUT now Maggie is convinced there is someone or something in the dark woods. It’s terrifying.
Maggie is frightened of her very violent husband and there is literally no way out from her torment, plus her husband has changed. And not for the better.
My first book by this author and this is creepy, made me anxious, heart pounding and I was totally biting my nails……it’s oh so good.
I preferred reading the book than on audio. The narrator wasn’t for me she came over as trying to hard. But that’s my point of view.
Definitely going to seek out more books from her when I don’t want to sleep peacefully at night!
December 5, 2021
Maybe it's unpopular opinion time.
I mean, if you compare this with a lot of the other self-pub stuff out there in the horror market, it falls in that line. You've got a monster in the mountains, a tragic perma-victim abused by a kidnapper for 8 years, and a chance encounter with a group of modern yahoos. Stir, shake up, and let the blood fly. If this is all you're looking for, then go for it.
But, me, well, I've been reading an average of 500 books a year, going on 6 years now. Before then, I was averaging about 300 a year. I have the freedom to pick up tons of randoms and indulge in "what is popular" at any particular moment. I'm able to pick up on trends that may not bother perhaps a large segment of the population, but when I happen to pick up 50-100 books a year, all new ones, that all share a common theme, I feel honor-bound to mention it, especially if it's rather dark and ugly.
More and more and more books, whether Horror, SF, or Fantasy (for these are the ones I focus on) are nothing more than female victimization novels with single-dimensional male characters that either A: are massively abusive, or B: are useless tools.
Let me just say something. I'm a man, and I'm a huge reader, and I have a very sensitive soul. If so much of the f**king market is designed to try to convince me that my entire sex, and by extension, me, are this f**king evil, then the most natural thing in the world would be for me to actually kill myself or stop reading altogether. I don't want to be a self-hating man. None of these stories come close to accurately describing myself or anyone I know. And while I am not excusing actual bastards in reality, I have to be clear about this:
I don't see the point of allowing this little butt-nugget of misandry to keep defining the whole industry any further than it already has. It's hateful. It's inaccurate. And women are just as likely to abuse people as men. But no, the new stereotype has gone off the deep end and it's disgusting.
But wait, aren't you a huge fan of Horror, Brad?
I am. But I'm a bigger fan of good writing, with characters of both sexes being delightfully complicated, rich, and full. I don't have a problem with massively nasty situations so long as it's not some kind of cardboard cutout or an obvious political agenda to smear a whole sex in the mud when the grand majority of them are innocent.
Is this book the worst offender? No. Not at all. I mean, William was a right nasty piece of work that would have belonged in the nastiest, isolated parts of the world over a hundred years ago. But no, he lived in modern times. When it's very unlikely he would have gotten away with even a third of what he did, even in his most misogynic throwback moments. He was a true monster.
Sorry, I guess I just get sick of this cookie-cutter kind of portrayal of men because it feels like every other modern book I pick up that is either up for nomination for some kind of award or is shouted about all over the place all wind up having the same damn theme. Men hating women.
In actuality, these are all women writers, promoted by female-dominated agencies, for publishers that are taking a hit for not having women at the very top of their pyramid, and there's a PR problem.
On top of this, they scream that men aren't reading anymore.
I wonder if there is a connection.
There's a thing called manufactured consent. One of the most common tactics is to keep repeating a thing over and over and over until all the people believe it.
It doesn't even matter whether it is done on purpose or not. If all you readers keep reading the same kinds of talking points over and over and over, you'll start believing it. It's human nature. It's also propaganda.
Stop the hate.
I mean, if you compare this with a lot of the other self-pub stuff out there in the horror market, it falls in that line. You've got a monster in the mountains, a tragic perma-victim abused by a kidnapper for 8 years, and a chance encounter with a group of modern yahoos. Stir, shake up, and let the blood fly. If this is all you're looking for, then go for it.
But, me, well, I've been reading an average of 500 books a year, going on 6 years now. Before then, I was averaging about 300 a year. I have the freedom to pick up tons of randoms and indulge in "what is popular" at any particular moment. I'm able to pick up on trends that may not bother perhaps a large segment of the population, but when I happen to pick up 50-100 books a year, all new ones, that all share a common theme, I feel honor-bound to mention it, especially if it's rather dark and ugly.
More and more and more books, whether Horror, SF, or Fantasy (for these are the ones I focus on) are nothing more than female victimization novels with single-dimensional male characters that either A: are massively abusive, or B: are useless tools.
Let me just say something. I'm a man, and I'm a huge reader, and I have a very sensitive soul. If so much of the f**king market is designed to try to convince me that my entire sex, and by extension, me, are this f**king evil, then the most natural thing in the world would be for me to actually kill myself or stop reading altogether. I don't want to be a self-hating man. None of these stories come close to accurately describing myself or anyone I know. And while I am not excusing actual bastards in reality, I have to be clear about this:
I don't see the point of allowing this little butt-nugget of misandry to keep defining the whole industry any further than it already has. It's hateful. It's inaccurate. And women are just as likely to abuse people as men. But no, the new stereotype has gone off the deep end and it's disgusting.
But wait, aren't you a huge fan of Horror, Brad?
I am. But I'm a bigger fan of good writing, with characters of both sexes being delightfully complicated, rich, and full. I don't have a problem with massively nasty situations so long as it's not some kind of cardboard cutout or an obvious political agenda to smear a whole sex in the mud when the grand majority of them are innocent.
Is this book the worst offender? No. Not at all. I mean, William was a right nasty piece of work that would have belonged in the nastiest, isolated parts of the world over a hundred years ago. But no, he lived in modern times. When it's very unlikely he would have gotten away with even a third of what he did, even in his most misogynic throwback moments. He was a true monster.
Sorry, I guess I just get sick of this cookie-cutter kind of portrayal of men because it feels like every other modern book I pick up that is either up for nomination for some kind of award or is shouted about all over the place all wind up having the same damn theme. Men hating women.
In actuality, these are all women writers, promoted by female-dominated agencies, for publishers that are taking a hit for not having women at the very top of their pyramid, and there's a PR problem.
On top of this, they scream that men aren't reading anymore.
I wonder if there is a connection.
There's a thing called manufactured consent. One of the most common tactics is to keep repeating a thing over and over and over until all the people believe it.
It doesn't even matter whether it is done on purpose or not. If all you readers keep reading the same kinds of talking points over and over and over, you'll start believing it. It's human nature. It's also propaganda.
Stop the hate.
April 13, 2021
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is how you do a horror and thriller combo! It was just the right blend of scary and mysterious.
Mattie lives high in the mountains with her husband, William. While checking their animal traps one day during the winter, she finds a dead fox on the path, cut open but not eaten or taken by the predator that killed it. What follows is classic horror movie - discovery of a creature, the hunt, other people getting involved, and the long night fight for survival... and the author has done an amazing job at that.
But where the book truly shines is in the element of character. You see, the creature in the cold, dark forest isn't the only monster that preys on Mattie, and sometimes, you don't have the sharp claws and vicious fangs to reveal a predator's nature... sometimes, humans are the worst monsters of all.
While this book definitely shows that dark side of human nature, it also excels at showing the resiliency, hopefulness, and brave sides of humankind as well.
Highly recommended. For non-horror fans, this one is only moderately scary in the creature-feature department. If you like thrillers, the horror in this one probably won't phase you much.
This is how you do a horror and thriller combo! It was just the right blend of scary and mysterious.
Mattie lives high in the mountains with her husband, William. While checking their animal traps one day during the winter, she finds a dead fox on the path, cut open but not eaten or taken by the predator that killed it. What follows is classic horror movie - discovery of a creature, the hunt, other people getting involved, and the long night fight for survival... and the author has done an amazing job at that.
But where the book truly shines is in the element of character. You see, the creature in the cold, dark forest isn't the only monster that preys on Mattie, and sometimes, you don't have the sharp claws and vicious fangs to reveal a predator's nature... sometimes, humans are the worst monsters of all.
While this book definitely shows that dark side of human nature, it also excels at showing the resiliency, hopefulness, and brave sides of humankind as well.
Highly recommended. For non-horror fans, this one is only moderately scary in the creature-feature department. If you like thrillers, the horror in this one probably won't phase you much.
January 29, 2022
christina henry KNOWS how to get under your skin. the way she evokes this creeping atmosphere of dread, this sense of fear that never quite manages to leave you even long after you’ve read the last page, is fucking incredible. this book will genuinely haunt me for the rest of my life
(MASSIVE trigger warnings for physical abuse, kidnapping, violence and gore, and implied sexual assault and rape)
(MASSIVE trigger warnings for physical abuse, kidnapping, violence and gore, and implied sexual assault and rape)
December 12, 2021
I kept waiting for some big reveal or twist that never happened. Then it just ended abruptly, leaving me wondering what happened to the characters and annoyed that NONE of any of the story was a clever metaphor or imagined it was all "literal". Really? What a waste. How do you have all this setup and do NOTHING with it?
That and the girl...talking...like...this...for...most...of...the...book.
That and the girl...talking...like...this...for...most...of...the...book.
Read
February 7, 2022CW for abuse.
“My name is Samantha.”
So What’s It About?
Mattie can't remember a time before she and William lived alone on a mountain together. She must never make him upset. But when Mattie discovers the mutilated body of a fox in the woods, she realizes that they're not alone after all.
There's something in the woods that wasn't there before, something that makes strange cries in the night, something with sharp teeth and claws.
When three strangers appear on the mountaintop looking for the creature in the woods, Mattie knows their presence will anger William. Terrible things happen when William is angry.
What I Thought
I’m hovering somewhere between 2.5 and 3 stars for this one because the supernatural elements didn’t work for me at all but the psychological ones were stronger, in my opinion. The real strength of the book to me is in the way that the protagonist's trauma is written in her internal monologue, as well as the way that she gradually works through her terror to start to question her world’s rigid rules and piece together her confusing memories and try to make sense of things, find agency, and escape. I like that she has several internal “voices” that are differentiated with different fonts and represent the parts of her that have been fragmented by the horror she’s experienced. It’s heartbreaking but also incredibly hopeful to see her start to interact with other people who aren’t dangerous and savor doing things as simple as eating tasty good to satiation for the first time that she can remember. So that’s the good stuff, and I really do think that it’s very good.
As for the bad: I would start by saying that there is a ton of what I would call “procedural” descriptions of people completing tasks and moving items around and talking about what they want to/are going to do. These sections were very boring to me and it was incredibly tempting to start skimming them. CP, Griffin and Jen fill this horror book’s quota for annoying twentysomethings who are in the wrong place at the wrong time, bicker and argue constantly and seem to be dead set on making the worst decisions possible. This is something that I talked about with Nothing But Blackened Teeth recently, but in this case it might actually be more infuriating because the protagonist is being SO BRAVE and trying SO HARD to keep everyone alive but they just keep ignoring what she says and end up being monster fodder!!!
This is the second book I’ve read recently that falls into the trope I fondly call “Maybe the Real Monster is Abuse,” and I do think that the metaphor was a little more successful in A Dowry of Blood. Ideally, I think there should be some kind of interesting parallel between the supernatural elements and the actual abuse/abuser, but that wasn’t really the case here. I also think my irritation at the side characters and repetition completely overshadowed any fear that I might have felt for the monster. I was definitely sad and disgusted and angered by everything that had to do with William, but I wasn’t ever really scared of anything in this book, and I think that’s probably because everything to do with the monster felt quite flat.
“My name is Samantha.”
So What’s It About?
Mattie can't remember a time before she and William lived alone on a mountain together. She must never make him upset. But when Mattie discovers the mutilated body of a fox in the woods, she realizes that they're not alone after all.
There's something in the woods that wasn't there before, something that makes strange cries in the night, something with sharp teeth and claws.
When three strangers appear on the mountaintop looking for the creature in the woods, Mattie knows their presence will anger William. Terrible things happen when William is angry.
What I Thought
I’m hovering somewhere between 2.5 and 3 stars for this one because the supernatural elements didn’t work for me at all but the psychological ones were stronger, in my opinion. The real strength of the book to me is in the way that the protagonist's trauma is written in her internal monologue, as well as the way that she gradually works through her terror to start to question her world’s rigid rules and piece together her confusing memories and try to make sense of things, find agency, and escape. I like that she has several internal “voices” that are differentiated with different fonts and represent the parts of her that have been fragmented by the horror she’s experienced. It’s heartbreaking but also incredibly hopeful to see her start to interact with other people who aren’t dangerous and savor doing things as simple as eating tasty good to satiation for the first time that she can remember. So that’s the good stuff, and I really do think that it’s very good.
As for the bad: I would start by saying that there is a ton of what I would call “procedural” descriptions of people completing tasks and moving items around and talking about what they want to/are going to do. These sections were very boring to me and it was incredibly tempting to start skimming them. CP, Griffin and Jen fill this horror book’s quota for annoying twentysomethings who are in the wrong place at the wrong time, bicker and argue constantly and seem to be dead set on making the worst decisions possible. This is something that I talked about with Nothing But Blackened Teeth recently, but in this case it might actually be more infuriating because the protagonist is being SO BRAVE and trying SO HARD to keep everyone alive but they just keep ignoring what she says and end up being monster fodder!!!
This is the second book I’ve read recently that falls into the trope I fondly call “Maybe the Real Monster is Abuse,” and I do think that the metaphor was a little more successful in A Dowry of Blood. Ideally, I think there should be some kind of interesting parallel between the supernatural elements and the actual abuse/abuser, but that wasn’t really the case here. I also think my irritation at the side characters and repetition completely overshadowed any fear that I might have felt for the monster. I was definitely sad and disgusted and angered by everything that had to do with William, but I wasn’t ever really scared of anything in this book, and I think that’s probably because everything to do with the monster felt quite flat.
July 30, 2022
2.5
oh no what a let down
oh no what a let down
September 18, 2021
Near The Bone is my very first Christina Henry novel, but it won't be my last.
A strange cry shattered the air. I wasn't quite a bear's roar, or a mountain lion's call, or an eagle's screech, but a nerve-shattering combination of all three, mixed with another sound--something almost, but not quite, human.
This book had everything I needed this week in a horror: Monsters both human and creature, an empathic and intelligent heroine, bone-chilling isolation, and bit of cannon-fodder. The author expertly weaved the tale from quiet psychological horror to screaming creature-feature and back again. There was literally never a dull moment.
A strange cry shattered the air. I wasn't quite a bear's roar, or a mountain lion's call, or an eagle's screech, but a nerve-shattering combination of all three, mixed with another sound--something almost, but not quite, human.
This book had everything I needed this week in a horror: Monsters both human and creature, an empathic and intelligent heroine, bone-chilling isolation, and bit of cannon-fodder. The author expertly weaved the tale from quiet psychological horror to screaming creature-feature and back again. There was literally never a dull moment.
April 2, 2021
The monster that hunts in Near The Bone is left largely to the unknown. We have little description of what it looks like, or where it has come from. All the reader knows is that it’s unusually intelligent and that it’s out for blood.
Our setting is an isolated cabin, where Mattie is trapped with her estranged and abusive husband, William. Mattie discovers strange tracks of an animal that William becomes obsessed about hunting down, giving her ample time to plan her next move. While her husband might have weapons and no inhibition to kill, Mattie has been living and analyzing the decisions and triggers of William for years now, and she knows how to conspire the perfect escape. But of course, nothing goes as planned. Three hikers stumble upon the area of the cabin, one of whom recognizes Mattie. As we slowly unravel the covered-up past of Mattie in a series of flashbacks, we also undercover the secrets of William.
Though thoroughly a monster horror, Near The Bone also combines both a creature feature and a domestic thriller, a mix which is sure to leave the reader on edge. With the presence of a wolf-like animal that toys with its prey, and a far more terrifying William who’s set on getting revenge, who’s to say which one is actually the monster?
Mattie is the highlight of the novel, and what elevates the suspense and anxiety of the story is how she’s constantly trying to say the right thing and never make the wrong move out of the fear of William’s violent impulses. While she may be able to lead a crusade back down the mountain while avoiding the creature and her husband, she’ll need to conquer her biggest fears before she’ll ever feel true freedom.
Our setting is an isolated cabin, where Mattie is trapped with her estranged and abusive husband, William. Mattie discovers strange tracks of an animal that William becomes obsessed about hunting down, giving her ample time to plan her next move. While her husband might have weapons and no inhibition to kill, Mattie has been living and analyzing the decisions and triggers of William for years now, and she knows how to conspire the perfect escape. But of course, nothing goes as planned. Three hikers stumble upon the area of the cabin, one of whom recognizes Mattie. As we slowly unravel the covered-up past of Mattie in a series of flashbacks, we also undercover the secrets of William.
Though thoroughly a monster horror, Near The Bone also combines both a creature feature and a domestic thriller, a mix which is sure to leave the reader on edge. With the presence of a wolf-like animal that toys with its prey, and a far more terrifying William who’s set on getting revenge, who’s to say which one is actually the monster?
Mattie is the highlight of the novel, and what elevates the suspense and anxiety of the story is how she’s constantly trying to say the right thing and never make the wrong move out of the fear of William’s violent impulses. While she may be able to lead a crusade back down the mountain while avoiding the creature and her husband, she’ll need to conquer her biggest fears before she’ll ever feel true freedom.
December 12, 2021
"We came up here to do some research and now we're in a horror movie with a monster and an unkillable redneck with a gun."
What a wet fart of a 'horror' story. Spoilers below.
Martha (Mattie) is a young woman who lives in an isolated cabin in the woods on a mountain with her husband, William. William is abusive and controlling and doesn't allow Mattie any freedom - her life begins and ends in the small cabin they call home. One day when checking the traps for rabbits, she comes across a fox killed in an unusual way. What follows is a period of discovery for Mattie about her past, the monster she lives with, and what else lives on the mountain.
I had no expectations going into NEAR THE BONE, and unfortunately it failed to even meet them. I found the story to be utterly devoid of tension and horror, the creature to be entirely uninteresting, and the drama of Mattie's past to be pretty rote and unbelievable.
We get almost no information about the creature - which, sometimes, can work as a way to ratchet the tension. In this case, however, it simply left me disinterested. We get one neat little creepy bit where we find that the monster is breaking people into their component pieces - bones, organs, etc. - and 'sorting' them into piles. That's kinda creepy - unfortunately it goes nowhere, and throughout the story it basically exists as an out for when the plot needs a kick. Everything kinda just treading water? Have a sudden random enormous paw with huge claws grab one of the characters.
On the topic of characters, yikes. We have Samantha (i.e. Martha/Mattie) - childhood abductee and abuse victim who rediscovers all her repressed, lost memories in the span of 48 hours. We have William, child abductor and abuser who is arguably the real monster of the novel, religious nut and general Bad Guy. Finally, we have The Cryptid Guys (and Girl), apparently the only people outside of William who Samantha has seen in twelve years on this publicly accessible mountain, quipping idiots who exist only to give the creature more bodies to work through.
At no point did I experience even a zephyr of tension or fear. I didn't care about any of the characters - I had no interest in the monster - I didn't buy the entire setup with the abduction of Samantha and William apparently being a drug runner in the spare moments he has when he's not beating her for not being a good Christian wife, or assaulting her because 'a man must have sons'.
I actually fell asleep while reading the last 100 pages. I think that says it all.
June 24, 2021
I was going to give this 3 stars because I did finish it and it was and and entertaining in it's way, but... No. The more I sit with it I just can't 2 stars.
2 stars for taking one of the coolest concepts I've heard and doing nothing cool with it. 2 stars for making the bad guy the most boring, obvious version of the archetype. Actually, 2 stars for making all the characters the most boring, obvious versions of themselves.
2 stars for the clumsy writing, for example: "they'd already had several days of snowfall and unusually cold days." Several days of cold days, really?
2 stars because the creature never really felt scary.
2 stars for the characters making and enjoying some grilled cheese sandwiches right after a LITERAL HUMAN HEART got tossed at them through a window. Also did Mattie even wash her hands after she picked it up and tossed it back?
2 stars, instead of 1 stars, because the early scene where Mattie left alone in the snow and has to dig deep within herself to get home was actually pretty cool. But you need more than one good scene in a book.
2 stars for taking one of the coolest concepts I've heard and doing nothing cool with it. 2 stars for making the bad guy the most boring, obvious version of the archetype. Actually, 2 stars for making all the characters the most boring, obvious versions of themselves.
2 stars for the clumsy writing, for example: "they'd already had several days of snowfall and unusually cold days." Several days of cold days, really?
2 stars because the creature never really felt scary.
2 stars for the characters making and enjoying some grilled cheese sandwiches right after a LITERAL HUMAN HEART got tossed at them through a window. Also did Mattie even wash her hands after she picked it up and tossed it back?
2 stars, instead of 1 stars, because the early scene where Mattie left alone in the snow and has to dig deep within herself to get home was actually pretty cool. But you need more than one good scene in a book.
January 11, 2022
Jumping into the story we run into Mattie as she’s on her way to check on some traps for food. You see, she lives in the woods with William, her husband. He is abusive AF not only physically but emotionally. He keeps Mattie down through beatings and physical labor. It’s his christian duty to keep his woman in check. UGH, William, what a douche! He is the worst. Poor Mattie lives in constant fear and torn to pieces. Every thought in her head is “but William will get mad”. It’s rough seeing life through her eyes as she suffers day in and day out. Also, she doesn’t remember much before living with William. She remembers her sister but that’s about it. Little by little her story starts unfolding before her eyes when one day 3 strangers show up at her backyard. This is super unusual cause as I stated before she lives in the woods, super isolated, on a mountain. These 3 strangers happen to be following a creature that has surfaced on said mountain which Mattie and her husband have also recently discovered. AND SHIT HITS THE FAN!
While I enjoyed the overall story being told I was a tad bit disappointed and I can’t pinpoint why. This story was atmospheric, and it was suspenseful which had my heart pumping a few times. Usually this is the perfect recipe for my type of book, but it fell kind of short. This is my first book by Henry so i’m not sure if it was the writing which didn’t quite grab me or if it was just missing that oomph that I needed. My opinion and rating might change once I sit more on it because this book does stick with you and it does have a special something to it, we’ll see. Either way it is an enjoyable story and I feel like the majority of people will absolutely love it.
Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for my review copy.
While I enjoyed the overall story being told I was a tad bit disappointed and I can’t pinpoint why. This story was atmospheric, and it was suspenseful which had my heart pumping a few times. Usually this is the perfect recipe for my type of book, but it fell kind of short. This is my first book by Henry so i’m not sure if it was the writing which didn’t quite grab me or if it was just missing that oomph that I needed. My opinion and rating might change once I sit more on it because this book does stick with you and it does have a special something to it, we’ll see. Either way it is an enjoyable story and I feel like the majority of people will absolutely love it.
Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for my review copy.
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