The Bones Beneath My Skin Review

Hello, all!

Let's chat about The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune.

Pub Date: 2-4-25
Adult - Fantasy

After the recent loss of his parents and job, Nate Cartwright is left directionless. With nowhere to go, Nate decides to leave Washington DC to head back to his family's cabin in the mountains of Oregon to figure out his next move. But when he gets to the cabin, he's met with a large man with a gun and a strange young girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader.

Nate knows he should probably call the cops because he certainly doesn't want to get involved with whatever the pair are running from, but he finds himself inviting them to stay instead. He learns the surly gun-toting man is Alex and he's helping Artemis return to her family. The story they tell Nate is beyond comprehension: Artemis is a being from another world imprisoned for years in a secret government facility until Alex broke her out. Now they're on the run. Soon, Nate finds himself facing a tough decision: either stay here and drown in his grief, or risk everything to help this special little girl.

I can always count on Klune for stories that are equally heartwarming and heartbreaking. I adored our three main characters. Nate felt so relatable, Alex was grumpy with a heart of gold, and Art was endearing. Klune has a knack for writing charmingly quirky characters and Art was no exception. I loved her from the moment we met her. Everything about the world is new to her, so seeing it through her eyes was a delight. I also loved how she constantly spoke as if she was in a spaghetti Western. It was so funny. I wasn't as interested in the plot, but I still enjoyed it. If you like found family stories that balance lighthearted moments with deeper meaning, I would suggest checking it out.

Rating: 3/5

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