This ended up being one of my favorite YA series! Smart, sharp, and acerbic, Not Even Bones is a promising debut from a skilled author.

Sadly, I had a very negative experience with this author and I will not be reviewing her books now or in the future. Being rude to reviewers/social media influencers is not the way to go.

First of all, WHY ARE MORE PEOPLE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS BOOK?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?

I frequently listen to people discuss what books are most disturbing in the horror and dark fantasy genres. I am always looking for a new and unique horror read. Much to my surprise, I have not heard one person mention this book. To be honest, I have never read a Young Adult book like this one. I don't know if I would even classify this book as Young Adult because it is pretty graphic. All of that being said, I REALLY liked it!!! My mind is still trying to process the world this author has created. It took me a little bit to get into the story. There are so many unnatural creatures to keep track of with names I have never heard. Also, the author jumps right into the story, so I was confused sometimes. Don't worry though, I will be reading the rest of the trilogy. I HAVE TO KNOW!!! Be warned, it is technical, gory, gross, and extremely disturbing. On the other hand, it is a fascinating story with morally gray characters who are pushed to make decisions they never see themself having to make. It will make you question if you would have reacted the same way.

This book definitely took me by surprise! I was surprised by how much I loved it! It’s definitely got a Dexter type of feel!

Nita listens to her Disney playlist while she dissects dead unnatural beings. She lives with her mother and helps her with the collecting and dissecting that she does for a living. Nita’s mother sells body parts on the black market on the dark web. The first chapter shows her cruelty when she brings home a creature that looks like he’s an eighteen-year-old human. She locks him in a newly purchased cage and handcuffs him. She wants to keep him alive as long as possible while she removes and sells pieces of his body. Nita can’t stand to see him suffer so she helps him escape. Her mother is furious but calm. Soon after, Nita is kidnapped and imprisoned. After witnessing torture and seeing some black market buyers, Nita manages to escape and takes her neighboring cellmate along. Through suspenseful danger and action, Nita discovers more information about her kidnapping. Twists and intrigue, 4 stars!

This was a middle-of-the-road read for me. While I liked a lot of aspects, there were some things I disliked, and overall, I just didn't feel strongly enough about the book to really warrant adding an in-depth review to the blog.

YA horror is a genre that often seems to get glossed over, so it was great to get my hands on this one. I was not disappointed by the level of darkness here--Schaeffer does not hold back from putting our main character, Nita, into morally ambiguous situations that definitely let her toe the line between hero and villain. This book is a twisty, deliciously dark addition to the genre and I look forward to starting the sequel.

I looooooooved this so much and thought it was just as interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat as I was hoping it would be. I will be buying this and its sequel for my friends and family

I loved this book! It’s deliciously dark and twisted, and features a cast of antiheroes and villains that are flawed and complex. The plot is fast-paced and thrilling with the stakes building up to a climax that leaves the readers on a nail biting cliffhanger. While there isn’t what I’d call romance in this book, the chemistry between Nita and Kovit is one of the elements I loved most about this story. There’s nothing else quite like it in YA and I’m eager to read the next chapter in Nita’s journey!

A thoroughly original take on old mystical concepts. Rebecca Schaeffer revived old ideas and creatures and spun a gorgeous tale of strength, character, and magic.

So first off, I'm kicking myself right now for waiting so long to read this.  Secondly huge shout out to HMH for providing me this ARC in 2018.

Basically everything about this book — from the cover to the tag line — screamed THIS IS FOR ME!  It did not disappoint.  It was fresh, exciting, and darkly fascinating!

Not Even Bones provides a lot of dark, morally questionable characters all of which deal directly or indirectly with torture, murder, and/or dissection of unnaturals.  As the story unfolds you realize in this world not all "bad" people are created the same.  

You have Nita, an anti-social teenager, who has spent her childhood dissecting and prepping the body parts of "monsters" for the black market.  Eventually Nita finds herself on the other side of the dark market after being kidnapped by someone wanting to exploit her abilities.  Here she meets Kovit, a Zannie, who inflicts pain on others to eat but has rules that prevent him from taking it too far.  Their unlikely friendship, turned slow burn romance, is everything.  And the duo eventually takes on the isolated Peruvian dark market to regain their freedom.

Can't wait to get my hands on a copy of Only Ashes Remain to see how the story continues.  If you haven't read this one, do yourself a favor and PICK IT UP!

4.5 This is a great book for suspense readers who may not realize they do like horror books. The suspenseful storyline is highly engaging and moves readers easily through even gory scenes. Great readalike for fans of Shusterman's Unwind or Scythe. Looking forward to the sequel!

Based on the book’s description, I wasn’t sure about Not Even Bones. Let’s be real: there’s no romance in that description, and it’s also pretty low on details about the book’s actual plot. I was on the fence about requesting it, and I was probably swayed by the lovely and creepy cover. For those on the fence, the Dexter meets This Savage Song pitch is actually right on the money. Schaeffer’s debut is dark, creepy, murdery and unputdownable.


When the book started, I was immediately into the creepy nature of it. Nita works for her mom, as a fair amount of teens do. Nita dissects and dismembers supernatural beings for her mom, which not very many teens probably do, even in this fantasy version of the world where supernatural creatures are common. Nita super loves her job too, even if she has to pretend she doesn’t know how the sausage is made to do it.

When her mom brings home a helpless supernatural creature with yummy flesh, Nita balks at the idea of slowly cutting pieces off of a live victim for sale. Nita’s as shocked as anyone else to realize that she does have an ethical line. (This, right here, should let you know what kind of a heroine you have in this book.) At this point, I thought I knew where the book was going, and I was suspicious, but the book super did not go where I thought it would, and it was AWESOME. I was on the edge of my seat for all 368 pages.

What I loved most about Not Even Bones is that it absolutely leans into the darkness and horror. There are so many YA novels where the characters are monstrous but then you find out that they’re misunderstood fluffy bunnies. No one in here is a fluffy bunny. This book is thoroughly populated by terrifying people, and no one is to be underestimated. I can’t pick scariest, though Nita’s mother is a definite contender for that. Probably at least half of the cast has antisocial personality disorder (think psychopaths/sociopaths). I kept expecting there to be some sort of redemption arc or softening, but this book keeps its teeth from beginning to end.

The range of supernatural creatures is really cool, pulling from legends around the world, I’d imagine. I’d never read about any creatures like most of the ones mentioned in this book, and the ones I had (like vampires) were still completely different from anything I’d encountered before. Nita (and her mother’s power) was especially fascinating. They can manipulate their bodies by altering their biology, but they’re limited by what the body can scientifically do, which is so cool and also I can only imagine how useless that power would be on me because if you don’t understand the biology you can easily kill yourself.

There’s a real visual element to this novel. It’s one of those that even I kind of saw play out in my head like a film. Only some authors make that happen for me, but there’s something really graphic about the writing style that paints a word picture. What’s interesting is the writing was one of the things I was initially unsure about, but it clearly did its job for the story.

I’ll keep this review on the short side, because there’s very little I feel I can talk about without spoiling the twists and turns this incredibly dark story takes, and I’d hate to do that to anyone. This is a book for readers who indulge in the macabre and want to hang out with a heroine who enjoys cutting up dead bodies.

Deliciously dark and twisty! This title asks complex questions about good and evil, encouraging readers to see the intersections and ambiguity of morality. Perfect for readers of horror who want a fresh twist on urban fantasy!

This book was completely different than anything I’ve read lately, or maybe ever. It’s the story of Nita, a girl who has grown up working in the family business. Only this family business is much darker than normal; they capture magical creatures and dissect them in order to sell their parts on the black market. And Nita is the one doing the dissecting. But she doesn’t murder them, her piece in the business is methodical and precise and has never bothered. That is of course until her mother brings home a live person for Nita to dissect. In her effort to do the right thing and release the man, Nita herself is sold on the black market and gets to see her world from a much different angle.

This book gets DARK. So if you aren’t ready for that, or for slightly gruesome dissections, maybe skip it. But, dark is kind of my thing and though some things made me a bit squeamish, I still really loved where Rebecca Schaeffer went with this book. It brings up questions like, what does it mean to be a human? As well as lots of other social commentary sprinkled throughout.

This is very much a story where the main character walks the line between hero and villain. Nita is fantastic and I loved being inside her head. I’ve heard Not Even Bones pitched as Dexter meets This Savage Song and I couldn’t think of a better way to describe it. It just so perfectly encapsulates the darkness of humans and what we choose to do with it.

Disturbing, morbid, and utterly fascinating, Not Even Bones was not the book I expected but everything I could have asked for nonetheless.

There are dark YA novels, and then there's this book. It's not scary or creepy, not a thriller to keep you up at night, but it's so very dark. Nita, the protagonist, dissects "people," creatures that resemble humans a little too closely for comfort. And from there, it just gets grittier.

First off, I loved that this book isn't set in the US but in Peru. I feel like all the books I've read lately set in our world are in either the US or UK so I enjoyed the change. And this world is messed up. It's an alternate universe where many of the various supernatural creatures you've probably heard about (vampires, unicorns, etc) and others you haven't exist in a sort-of peace with humans. Except for the ones Nita and her mother kill and dismantle to sell for parts.

This book seriously challenges morality and falls almost entirely into that gray area. Nita is a character that I both wanted to see a redemption arc for after all the things she's done or been a part of, but I also didn't because that was who she was. In short, I found her character entirely fascinating. She's neither hero nor villain. Honestly, while there are a few characters who would definitely fall firmly in the "villain" category, I wouldn't classify any of them as heroes.

Nita is selfish, naturally so I would say. One thing I've never understood in stories, especially YA, are the heroes who are purely selfless and will do whatever they can for the greater good. Not that those types of people don't exist, but it doesn't seem realistic to have a whole cast of them. Nita helps others, sure, but she also ensures her own safety in the process.

Also, I love Kovit. I can't say more, but his character is very much multi-faceted and just so beautifully flawed. Much like Nita.

I just love Nita and her character development. It was so masterfully done. I just. Yeah.

And this WORLD. Okay, so I mentioned that it's set in Peru. In the middle of the jungle. In a market. The Death Market. I never thought I'd find a fictional world I wanted to visit less than Panem from The Hunger Games but I think I found it. If you're human, you're fine. But if there's even something remotely different about you, best to run FAR, far away. I had no problems envisioning the setting which, kudos to Schaeffer for the excellent writing, not so great for my psyche. It's messed up.

This book is messed up.

And I loved it!

As for the writing, because I suppose I should mention that, I wouldn't necessarily call Schaeffer the best of the best with this debut. But hey, it's a debut. And, frankly, I didn't care. I was hooked from the first word to the last (and I NEED the sequel).

If you've been on the hunt (hah. . . ) for a dark, gritty YA fantasy packed with so many plot twists I thought I was on a roller coaster, Not Even Bones is your book. Or if you like morally gray characters. Or something spooky for the Halloween season. Or just want to read a good book? 

You get the picture. Read this book. Buy this book. Request it from your library. /End Rave

Nita's family isn't like everyone else's--unless their family also sells the body parts of supernaturals on the black market. Nita's mother hunts and kills the supernaturals, and Nita dissects them. Then they send the parts for sale.

When Nita's mother brings one home alive, it's a bridge too far for Nita. Suddenly, it brings home what it is they actually do. Their subjects have lives. After Nita helps him escape, she finds out what life is like for the hunted supernaturals when she herself is captured--after all, she's secretly a supernatural herself.

Schaeffer creates an interesting and full world of supernaturals and a dark underground. Nita is an interesting character, and the world inventive enough to encourage me to try the next in the series when it comes out.

I received Not Even Bones from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Released September 4th, 2018.

Part of the description of Not Even Bones over on Goodreads is “Dexter meets This Savage Song” and I was so down for that. I don’t even know where to start with this, because I just want to fangirl like crazy with how freaking amazing it was. I finally found a book that blew me away! It’s been way too long. Not Even Bones was dark, it was creepy, it was face-paced. I had so much fun reading this book and it me on the edge of my seat quite a bit. I loved the writing style and it was so easy to read and so hard to put down.

I enjoyed the main character Nita so much and was rooting for her the entire time. There were characters you wanted to hate, but couldn’t help but to love. All the different types of “monsters” and special powers they have was really interesting. There were a lot of gory aspects to it as well, but I love that kind of stuff. So if you like that kind of thing, this book is for you! There was no insta-love, which I especially loved. It didn’t focus on a romance much at all. It left it open for something in future books though and I am actually happy with the possibility.

Overall, Not Even Bones was a perfect read. It was so exciting and so many things are happening. There’s a few twists and it’s so fast-paced and action packed. I love dark and creepy books and that’s exactly what this one was. You’ll be sucked in right from the very first page. I am so stoked that I was able to get the chance to read this book and I can’t wait for the sequel. The ending, holy crap! It’s perfect if you want to add it to your Halloweenie TBRs. :P Not Even Bones is out now, so I highly recommend picking up a copy! I plan to go buy my copy as soon as I post this review.

I received this in ARC form, and I have a rule of not reviewing ARCs unless I can confidently give an honest review.

This was easily one of the very best books I read this year! I've been finding it hard to fit reading in lately, with my own book coming out soon, but this book was impossible for me to NOT keep reading. I finished it in two nights (and honestly, could have finished it in one, but I had to be strict on myself about homework. Sigh.)

This book didn't stand still. It's always racing ahead with a high stakes plot, has characters I really adored and cared about, pulled off anti-hero beautifully (I mean, part of me kind of felt the MC had some of her downfalls coming because the things she's happy to do *really* goes against my own morals. But, for me, that just made some of the twists and turns more satisfying, and I like myself a well-done unlikable character). I didn't see any of the twists coming, either, so I found the reveals really satisfying.

The writing style was also something I really admired. It had the ability to be descriptive and engaging, without going off into purple prose. Purple prose in a high-action, plot focussed book is a real pet peeve of mine, so I was thrilled Rebecca didn't go there. I thought the pacing was just perfect.

This book is not for the squeamish. To give you a barometer, my tolerance for gore is in the realm of "I watched the whole SAW franchise, but I often closed my eyes and made loud noises to block it out". I found the gore in this one entertaining, and definitely not too much! To each their own. Judge for yourself. I'd definitely recommend picking this one up, though.

Quick Summary:

Set in a fascinating urban fantasy world where every possible supernatural you can think of exists. With each new creature discovered the demand for black market organs rises. Our main character Nita was raised in a household where dissecting and packaging dead supernaturals is an every day occurrence. With a not so great home life Nita has found reprieve in the calming structure of dissecting bodies. While in her lab all her problems fade away, but then her mother brings a live supernatural home for dissection. Faced with a moral dilemma she cannot so easily forget Nita will have to decide what lines she isnt willing to cross to please her mother.

My Thoughts:

Nita is a flawed character, but one I still came to really enjoy and appreciate. Its no surprise she turned out the way she did with a derranged mother like hers, but she was brave and resourceful when she needed to be. As for the other characters, we get to spend a bit of time with another female prisoner. I would have liked some type of friendship, but I totally understand why Nita doesnt make friends easily. The other character we get to meet is a supernatural guard. I was worried I wasnt going to enjoy their relationship, but by the end the author had me sold. I really liked the similarites between the two and how messed up they were.

I wish we had more of the main characters physical description. I still have no idea what she looks like. I know her father is from Chile, but most of the information was vague. Nita has grown up all over the world. In this novel we get to explore some of Peru and a bit of the Amazon River which was exciting. I loved the huge variety of supernatural creatures and the black market setting. The addiction themes also added another great layer to the story. The more I think about this book the more I fall in love with it. Lots of books claim to be dark while this one actually fufills that claim. .

The plot went in a direction I wasnt expecting. I enjoyed how the plot focused on some shady stuff like dissecting and selling organs. Despite not being biggest fan of captive plot lines I still found myself flying through this book. It has a gripping pace and easy writing. I also found "she let out the breath she didnt know she was holding" a bunch of times. Since Ive seen people talking about how cliche that line is every time I see it in a book it takes me out of the story. Its not a big deal, but I thought Id mention it. The cliff hanger at the end is making me want to read sequel as soon as possible.