I'm lowkey sad writing this review because I had high hopes for this book :(
It’s a truly wrenching story and I genuinely don’t think I wasted my time reading it.
I liked the relationship between Jane and Ellis. It felt realistic and not too dramatic for the sake of the plot.
The rest of the cast? Not so much. Maybe if they’d been described in more detail or if Ellis had talked about them more, I would’ve felt attached to them. They just gave little to no interest to remember them or connect with them, they were forgettable. It wasn't a super long read and the pacing was okay. I was happy that it didn’t drag. Now to the serious topics, for a book with the heavy subject of colonialism it lacked depth and understanding. I know it wasn't a history book but even in historical fiction, there is space to address the subject appropriately. Aside from that, it was just not groundbreaking. It wasn't bad, i was just hoping for more.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!

I went into *To the Bone* intrigued by the premise. This book weaves historical fiction with a brush of horror in a way that doesn’t feel overdone. It’s atmospheric, dark, and grounded in a time of desperation — the Starving Time at Jamestown — which makes the story all the more haunting.

Ellis, the main character, carries the emotional weight of the novel. Her experience is raw and visceral. You *feel* her hunger, her fear, her determination. Bruzas writes her with such empathy that even the most horrific moments feel heartbreakingly real.

The horror here isn't just in the cannibalism (though yes, it's there) it’s in the choices people are forced to make, in the erosion of humanity when survival is the only thing left. I also really appreciated the author's note at the end. The clarity around what was drawn from history and what was imagined made the story even more powerful.

If you like your historical fiction a little haunted and a lot emotional, this one might be for you.

**Trigger warnings:** Cannibalism, starvation, death, grief, mild horror elements.

I was hoping for a little more horror to this story, but I still enjoyed it. I would read more by this author.

This is a very dark, stark story about the attempt to colonize Jamestown and during their "Starving Time."

Ellis is a young women, tied to a family she needs to care for. A wife and husband she needs to cook and clean for. She left little behind her so this new life is her new life. But it's a misery. Her master, the husband, is terrible. He has little patience for disobedience but he also makes up infractions in order to hurt Ellis. Ellis, not sensing danger quick enough, has a crush on Jane. They take small moments to steal kisses, even though Master Collins (the husband), says she can't see her anymore.

But the whole story has an underlying menace woven though the whole story. Little things go on around Ellis that she can't always understand what it means, but we the reader typically do. As food starts to disappear, Ellis is still getting some food and isn't as concerned as she should be. The turn is quick, how dark the story slides. The food disappears, the crops fail, and those in the small village slowly realize they need to eat everything. Absolutely everything. This almost turns into a horror story, it becomes so dark. I was glad this was a short story because it got rough. I did this as an audio book and the narrator did a great job of making the story feel as dark and lonely as Ellis slowly begins to feel. Eye-opening and dark, I appreciated this story based on truth but I'm not sure of the right audience.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

This book mixes aspects of historical fiction and horror and made for a quick and thrilling read. While I definitely was glad the book veered off from Ellis obsession with Jane, it takes a quick and startling turn into one of the darkest times in Jamestown history, the starving time.

ARC provided by the publisher for honest opinion/feedback

This was a good YA horror book. I did enjoy it but I wanted more horror but I know with YA there can only be so much. I would be interested in reading more from this author because this book kept my attention the entire time.

Thank you Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Rocky Pond Books and Alena Bruzas for the eArc of To the Bone.

Oh my. After reading this book and the authors notes. I actually had to sit down and process this. Having been based on real events and some real people, this book got right under my skin. It's well written with Alena building the situation that's going on in James Fort, America, Its so excrusiatingly plain what direction the plot is going. It's clausaphobic, extemerly sad and horrifying. It invoked some pretty strong emotions and they do say that there is nothing more horrifying than human nature at its worse.

The character's ( in the authors notes you get to know who was based on who historically ) were so real and built so well. I loved our MFC Ellis. Her heart , her loyalty and her drive to be a " good girl " was her flaw but she was flawed beautifully. This book just unfolded and Im going to be thinking about it for a long time. If you love reading survival horror/YA then this is a must read.

4 stars

To The Bone isn’t the kind of book I usually gravitate toward—but I’m really glad I picked it up. Alena Bruzas delivers a raw, emotionally charged story that tackles difficult themes with honesty and care. The writing is powerful and intimate, drawing you deep into the protagonist’s inner world as she navigates trauma, truth, and the slow, painful process of healing. It’s not always an easy read, but it’s compelling and thoughtfully told, with moments that quietly linger long after the final page. While it pushed me out of my comfort zone, I found it both moving and worthwhile.

When people hear the term "American colonial life," what often comes to mind are heartwarming, nostalgic tales of childhood books. But the true stories from those untamed lands were sometimes horrifying and chilling. 

In this book, we follow the journey of Ellis, a teenage girl from England, as she travels to America in hopes of finding her father, who had left home years before. However, life on the frontier proves brutally harsh—especially when winter arrives, and people resort to unthinkable measures just to survive. 

This is a dark tale set in the early days of American settlement. The author’s simple yet effective writing style perfectly suits Ellis’s voice—young and uneducated, yet compelling. The plot moves swiftly, though not always easy to follow. 

Thank you Netgalley and Rocky Pond Books from Penguin Young Reader Group for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Expecting release date : 10 September 2024

I feel like I was tricked into reading this with the promise of sapphics and cannibalism. I would have steered clear had I known it was also a book about colonization and Indigenous trauma written by a white woman.


Trigger warnings: Cannibalism, murder, domestic abuse, racial slurs, racism, violence related to colonialism, pregnancy, abortion, miscarriage, child death, body horror, blood, gore, starvation, and food-withholding.

*Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC

To the Bone is a dark, gritty historical novel set in the Jamestown colony during the "starving time". I learned about Jamestown in school, of course, but Bruzas goes places with this book that my history classes never went. It's exceptionally well-researched, but also concise, dramatic, and fast-paced.

It follows indentured servant Ellis, and she was the perfect main character for this story. She's uneducated, naive, and anxious, but also hopeful, and this story is about those hopes flying out the window as Jamestown descends into the starving time and Ellis is forced to come to terms with some harsh realities. Ellis works for an abusive employer, Henry, and I thought this was depicted really well. Henry appears charming and caring, but behind closed doors he abuses Ellis and his wife. This duality is so realistic, and it genuinely challenges Ellis given her naivety.

Things come to a head when it becomes clear that Henry is doing something even more sinister, and I was horrified at not only what he did, but what he forced Ellis to do. Ellis also finds herself caught in the crosshairs (to an extent) of the settlers' conflict with the Powhatans, which I thought was handled sensitively. Bruzas emphasizes how both groups suffered during this time, but also has Ellis reconcile this with the fact that the settlers have been cruel to the Native Americans.

This story is genuinely disturbing, but Bruzas did a great job telling it.

A lesser known moment in colonial American history takes center stage in Bruzas' "To the Bone," one that no reader will be able to forget, and will leave more inquisitive readers wanting to do a deeper dive into the so-called "Starving Time."

Nothing at all is easy for Ellis in this new colony, but the few moments of joy and tenderness she finds are so vital to her character, and readers will rail at her employer for keeping her from them, especially Jane. Jane is such a bright spot in this bleak world, and Ellis holds on to that as tightly as she can. Their love is fierce and important, and so rarely (if ever) seen in stories set in this era.

"To the Bone" is unflinching in its portrayal of the horrors of this terrible stretch of time -- from how the colonists treat their Indigenous neighbors to the descriptions of desolation, cold, and the desperation of utter hunger.

This is not a book that anyone will soon forget.

Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for the arc.

3.5 stars!

This was much darker and grittier than I was expecting and I'm so thankful for the surprise! The author definitely did their research into how harrowing it would be to try and survive during colonialism in the 1600s Well done.

As a former history obsessed child reader this book was right up my alley. I thought the treatment of sensitive topics in this book were done well. I would recommend this book to those who are able to face difficult topics and are interested in early North American settling by Europeans. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this one - harrowing, gritty, deeply unsettling. Clearly, research was done here - and boy, was it graphic.

A gripping historical fiction novel set during the harsh winter of 1609 in Jamestown, Virginia. The story follows Ellis, a young indentured servant who has come to America seeking a better life but finds herself facing unimaginable hardships. The novel does an excellent job of portraying the brutal realities of colonial life, including starvation, abuse, and the tension between settlers and Indigenous people1.

While the historical setting and the stark depiction of survival are compelling, the pacing of the story can feel slow at times, and some readers might find it difficult to connect with Ellis emotionally. The romance between Ellis and Jane adds a tender element to the narrative, but it sometimes feels overshadowed by the harshness of the environment.

Overall, "To the Bone" is a well-researched and thought-provoking read that sheds light on a dark chapter of American history. However, it might not be for everyone due to its intense themes and sometimes uneven pacing.

To the Bone was an excellent read. I loved the writing and it was propulsive. Great character study. I would read more from this author.

Alena Bruzas is autobuy for me now! The way her writing transports you mentally to where the character is at is so well done. The entire time I was rooting for Ellis to find her voice and get away, even knowing what the outcome would be historically! The story is a sad one, but that’s what the colonizers get for thinking they could come to a land and take with no work.
Definitely recommend to horror fans as well as ones who enjoy historical fiction.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for my arc copies!

This book is well-researched and well-written.

But it is dark. And not for the faint to heart.

I should have learned by now to be aware of content/trigger warnings.

I thought I would be okay.

I was not.

To be fair, that's the point of this book.

"There is a whining outside. It comes to me through the darkness. The stars are all hidden by the clouds. The sky is dull gray like ash. There is no light. Not even the warmth of a fire behind a glowing square of oiled cloth. The whining. I follow it. It's high and strange and I can't tell if it's human. My heart thuds with fatigue and fright. It's louder now. The whining. And there is struggling too. And whispering. It's all coming from the dark ruin of a house. The family there, they died. . . It's just a gaping hole. A darkness I can't see past to what's inside."

Trigger warnings ahead. Cannibalism, abortion, abuse, slurs. I know the author put more on Goodreads so check them out there.
If I only learned this during history! How was this never taught? I think I would have dived into wanting to learn more about "Starving Time".
I did like the afterword that was put in there for us to read I felt it gave us a lot of insight into what inspired the author to write us this story.
Can you imagine living in the times of Jamestown and knowing you are not wanted in the land that people before you took? You are trying to survive, but in the end, it may not be enough. I felt for Ellis. She was a kid who was trying to survive and no matter what she did it wasn't enough. Her "owners" are not really the best. I mean the wife is so depressed that all she does is bed rot. The husband seems okay until Ellis starts hanging around someone he doesn't want her to and we just see him take it out on Ellis. Overall, this was a great and interesting read. Yes, I do think Ellis was too much at times with her feelings and repeating things.