You know those times where you just stumble across something super amazing (!!!) — and you proceed to spend the next x-hours totally engrossed? You eat THE ENTIRE PIE, or read THE ENTIRE BOOK, or watch THE ENTIRE SERIES! Then it’s over, and you’re kind of sad … but you know that your life is better for it?
This was not one of those times.
I mean … sure. I discovered the Not Even Bones web comic yesterday afternoon. I finished the book this morning. It’s — I will admit — a rather pretty web comic. (Some of the long panels are the definition of *le sigh!*) But, the comic isn’t done yet and I’m horribly impatient … so I went to my library’s online catalogue and checked out the book.
… I should have stuck with the web comic.
What’s it about?
Seventeen-year-old Nita — Anita — likes to dissect things … and, by “things”, I mean “people”.
Fortunately, she has many opportunities to do just that. Nita’s parents make their living in the very illegal “unnaturals” trade: killing mutant-humans, carving them up, and selling their parts through the black market.
Nita doesn’t question where the unnaturals come from or who they were. They simply arrive — dead — on her lab table. But all that changes when her mom brings home a live specimen.
In a moment of mercy, Nita lets the boy go. Only to find herself captured.
The remainder of the story follows Nita as she struggles with capture, making alliances, discovering her own unnatural powers, and making her escape. It’s a brutal, blood-filled mission … and … and … that’s about it.
Things I liked:
The concept. Because this was a really cool idea … somewhat similar to Menagerie. I love the idea of books that question humanity (morality, community, loyalty, politics, etc.) using “unnaturals” as a frame.
Kovit. The implications of a creature who can feel physical pain — and experience emotions and relationships — but who literally feeds on the pain of others? — who needs it to survive? I want that book!
What I didn’t like:
IT HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL! The premise of this book is amazing. It could have been a fabulous story that balanced deep thoughts — BIG THEMES! — with action and thrills … and maybe even a little romance.
What actually happened?
- A group of one-dimensional sociopaths debate whether they should cut off x’s fingers or eat y’s eyes.
- Lots of dichotomous debate over whether z-action is good/bad … with Nita eventually deciding that she likes doing bad things. There is no nuance.
- Almost zero world building.
- Prose that is … meh. I’ve seen much better. I’ve seen worse. But nothing about the words actually drew me in. It was a skimmable story.
- So many descriptions of Kovit’s creepy smile or his “shudders of ecstasy” as he eats someone’s pain.
The violence. I don’t like violence or gore. I really don’t. I’ve never watched Dexter or Hannibal; avoid true crime podcasts that are heavy on the details; and have walked out of forensic anthropology lectures. Cognitively, I know that humans are capable of some pretty awful acts … but seeing the pictures, knowing about the victims? It’s not something I need or want swimming about my head.
Not Even Bones falls into that gratuitous violence category. There was just so much of it. And, unlike books like The Poppy War — which is pretty darn gruesome, but where there is substantial ethical discussion — the violence in Not Even Bones wasn’t contextualized or condemned; nor did it serve to further the plot. It just … was.
Final thoughts:
I wanted to like this book. I wanted this to be a good book. And I wanted it so badly that — when I finished it this morning — I initially gave it a three-star rating. But wanting something doesn’t make it so. I won’t be picking up the second book. And, knowing where the story goes, I probably won’t be revisiting the web comic either.
The Details:
- The Book: Not Even Bones by Rebecca Schaeffer
- Published: 2018, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- My Copy: KFPL
- Read date: May 14-15, 2020
- Rating/5: 💉
- You should read
this if you like… the web comic - Avoid this if you dislike … scalpels
The Geeky Jock 
Cool concept, poor execution … my worst fear as a writer.
And so disappointing as a reader 😦