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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
TRIGGER WARNING!!
I feel like so few people are mentioning any of this, especially the positive reviews.
There's a LOT of intense domestic violence, rape, loss of children, and gore among so many others. Be careful!!!
I feel like so few people are mentioning any of this, especially the positive reviews.
There's a LOT of intense domestic violence, rape, loss of children, and gore among so many others. Be careful!!!
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Jesus this was such a drag after the 40% mark. incredible premise and set up but the execution left me expecting more from its characters and imagery, also there was barely any horror (yes, part of the horror was William but even then it wasn’t anything great). Like.. this genuinely did nothing for me
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Loved the last quarter of the book where you finally got snippets of the past they slowly explains things and answers questions. You finally saw character development and relationships.. Something to be invested in. I feel like I should have loved the first 3/4, but I didn't. I struggled to be emersed into the story every time I pick it up. Could have just been me and my mood. Not sure.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5. I really liked the combination of real world horrors and supernatural horrors. Honestly, there are few things scarier in this world than fundamentally religious, pedophilic, white men. William was definitely scarier than the monsters were. I want to know what happened to Heather.
Near the Bone is a chilling survival thriller that blends atmospheric horror with psychological suspense. Set deep in the isolated woods of a remote mountain, the novel follows Mattie, a young woman trapped in a terrifying cycle of control and abuse. As she struggles to survive both the harsh wilderness and the man who holds her captive, she discovers that the monster stalking her forest might not be the worst danger she faces. The pacing leans toward a slow burn early on, layering tension through Mattie’s claustrophobic perspective. Christina Henry excels at creating a sense of dread—not just from the creature lurking outside, but from the psychological horrors of Mattie’s past and present. Once the tension snaps, the final third of the novel accelerates rapidly, leading to a brutal yet strangely hopeful conclusion. Themes of survival, trauma, and the fight for freedom are explored with sensitivity and raw emotional depth. Readers sensitive to depictions of abuse should proceed cautiously, as Henry doesn’t shy away from portraying Mattie’s experiences realistically. Atmospheric, unsettling, and emotionally charged, Near the Bone is ideal for fans of survival horror with a psychological edge. It’s not just a monster story—it’s a story about reclaiming your life in the shadow of terror.
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
2.5 stars. The first half is Mattie doing chores and sometimes coming across something creepy and the second half is her trying to escape a monster (that only shows up a few times when Mattie “senses” it watching her) with the most insufferable characters that say the worst possible things at every moment.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated