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A review by haley_j_casey
Behold the Bones by Natalie C. Parker
4.0
3.5 stars for a companion novel that was awesome but perhaps not as awesome as the original, [b:Beware the Wild|13639182|Beware the Wild (Beware the Wild, #1)|Natalie C. Parker|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1391533548s/13639182.jpg|19252673].
I loved being inside Candy's head, experiencing her close, odd, superstitious family; her loving cousins; her deep friendships; and her rebellious spirit. Seeing Sticks, LA through Candy's eyes was entirely different (in a great way) than being inside Sterling's in the first book, but I thought the plot of this book didn't quite measure up.
This story certainly had pros, not the least of which was seeing deeper into the friendship between Sterling, Abigail, and Candy, and the way they included Heath in their circle. It was lovely to see such beautiful female friends, who understood and supported one another, who wanted to spend time together and help each other, and who, best of all, made mistakes and made up for them.
Another pro was Candy's personality. She's so brazen and fierce and deep-feeling and clever. She knows what she wants and deserves, and she stands up for it, no matter what. I adored her rebellious spirit and her consuming kindness and her desires.
She was also willing to face her mistakes and deal with them, which was huge for me.
What I didn't know until right this very minute was how growing up happens in little surges. We grow up in moments—when we encounter such stupidities in ourselves that our only choice is to grow past them or into them.
The plot, while a bit slow and less haunting than I'd hoped, was still original and highly entertaining. Ghosts appearing all over town, Candy's connection to the swamp coming to light, a new family in town... All good things.
However, I had a problem with how long it took Candy to confide in her friends about her problems, because they were supposed to be an unbreakable trio, and she kept everything to herself until it exploded out and harmed the people around her. I dunno, I just think I'd talk to my friends, especially after every crazy thing they'd already been through. Their moments of admission and emotion were honest and meaningful, and I missed more chances for that.
I also had a problem with the romance. While I was thrilled to find it not to be the central plot, I absolutely did not understand or condone
The concluding romance and the slightly slow plot (given the horror it could have contained) bumped this down the half-star from 4. But it was an excellent followup to an interesting world, and I'm happy to have it!
Now, may we have a third book from Abigail's POV, please Parker?
I loved being inside Candy's head, experiencing her close, odd, superstitious family; her loving cousins; her deep friendships; and her rebellious spirit. Seeing Sticks, LA through Candy's eyes was entirely different (in a great way) than being inside Sterling's in the first book, but I thought the plot of this book didn't quite measure up.
This story certainly had pros, not the least of which was seeing deeper into the friendship between Sterling, Abigail, and Candy, and the way they included Heath in their circle. It was lovely to see such beautiful female friends, who understood and supported one another, who wanted to spend time together and help each other, and who, best of all, made mistakes and made up for them.
Another pro was Candy's personality. She's so brazen and fierce and deep-feeling and clever. She knows what she wants and deserves, and she stands up for it, no matter what. I adored her rebellious spirit and her consuming kindness and her desires.
Spoiler
And I loved the decision on Natalie Parker's part to have her diagnosed with amenorrhea and to have to face that. I've never seen that in a YA book before—didn't even know the official name of it before this. To see Candy battle with the idea that she will now never have the choice to have children if she wants them, and to also see the unfairness that it takes away one of the key things people think a true woman should be able to do... It was amazing.She was also willing to face her mistakes and deal with them, which was huge for me.
What I didn't know until right this very minute was how growing up happens in little surges. We grow up in moments—when we encounter such stupidities in ourselves that our only choice is to grow past them or into them.
The plot, while a bit slow and less haunting than I'd hoped, was still original and highly entertaining. Ghosts appearing all over town, Candy's connection to the swamp coming to light, a new family in town... All good things.
However, I had a problem with how long it took Candy to confide in her friends about her problems, because they were supposed to be an unbreakable trio, and she kept everything to herself until it exploded out and harmed the people around her. I dunno, I just think I'd talk to my friends, especially after every crazy thing they'd already been through. Their moments of admission and emotion were honest and meaningful, and I missed more chances for that.
I also had a problem with the romance. While I was thrilled to find it not to be the central plot, I absolutely did not understand or condone
Spoiler
Candy ending up with Riley. I actually kind of adored the Gage and Candy storyline, never really together, but mutual attraction, the want of more, and having to say goodbye. I thought that was so special, and I would have been sad but pleased if that had been the relationship. But instead she ends up with Riley Wawheece?? The boy who has been a terror to guys and girls alike? The guy who always has a posse at his back while he makes lewd comments about women? Sure, it was fun to see him develop as a human being, and even fun to see him interact with Candy, but at the first sign of apology from him she forgets years of wariness and irritation at his presence and finds him attractive enough to date? He did nothing to really deserve the turnaround, and it cheapened the Gage storyline.The concluding romance and the slightly slow plot (given the horror it could have contained) bumped this down the half-star from 4. But it was an excellent followup to an interesting world, and I'm happy to have it!
Now, may we have a third book from Abigail's POV, please Parker?