T.J. Klune

The Bones Beneath My Skin

A spine-tingling standalone novel by bestselling author TJ Klune—a supernatural road-trip thriller featuring an extraordinary young girl and her two unlikely protectors on the run from cultists and the government.

There's nothing more human than a broken heart.

In the spring of 1995, Nate Cartwright has lost everything: his parents are dead, his only brother wants nothing to do with him, and he's been fired from his job as a journalist in Washington, DC.

With nothing left to lose, he returns to his family's summer cabin outside the small mountain town of Roseland, Oregon, to try and find some sense of direction. The cabin should be empty. It's not.

Inside is a man named Alex. And with him is an extraordinary ten-year-old girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. Artemis, who isn't exactly as she appears.

Soon it becomes clear that Nate must make a choice: let himself drown in the memories of his past, or fight for a future he never thought possible. Because the girl is special. And forces are descending upon them who want nothing more than to control her.

Cassidy Nolan

“You won’t understand. At least not right away. And that’s okay. You may even think I’m a liar, and that’s okay too. All I ask is that you listen until the very end before passing judgement. I have a story to tell you. Of a place under a mountain. Of the minds of men. Of what it means to be human, to make a home out of a place where one should not exist. And of what the future holds. For you. For me. For all of us.” The woman smiled, eyes sparkling. “I am loved. I love in return. My name is Artemis Darth Vader. And I come in peace.”

One of the men, the older and gruffer of them, cleared his throat and said, “Are you ready?”

The woman looked at him, cocking her head. “Are we going on an adventure?”

Something about taking a sad song and making it better.

After, he laughed until he could barely breathe.

Coincidence, right? It had to be a coincidence.

Funny thing was, he didn’t believe in coincidences.

Alex Weir still sat behind the steering wheel. He was as white as a sheet.

Reckon we might as well get on, ain’t that right, hoss?

And love. So much love that Nate felt like he was 

“I love you,” he told her, finally tearing his gaze away from the wonder in front of him. She was smiling at him, eyes wet. “I love you.”

He laughed. Of course he did. He couldn’t do anything else.

“I’m glad we found you. I’m glad he has you. Remember that when you look up at the stars.”

“Are we going on an adventure?” Art asked him, eyes wide.

Nate nodded. “That we are, hoss. Time to saddle up and hit that old dusty trail.”

Art looked up at him, a sad smile on her face. “I understand,” she said. “Maybe I wouldn’t have before, when I first came here. But I do now. Family is important. It’s everything, Nate.”

 everything. Which is why he said, “I have my family right here.”

If he died right here, right now, there was a very real possibility that he’d done something good. That his life had mattered. That he’d loved and been loved in return.

Alex reached down and picked up his rifle, snapping it free from the harness.

“You know how to use that?” Alex asked.

“It’s a stick,” Nate said. “You hit people with it.”

She grinned wildly. “Then saddle up, partners. It’s time to take back our valley.”

 me,” she shouted at him, voice breaking. “You love me like I love you. Like I love Nate. Like 

 love Nate. You love me because we belong together. You are my 

 And friends don’t leave each other behind. Not now. Not like this.” Uncertainty flickered across her face. “You do love me. Right?”

“You stupid girl,” Alex said, hanging his head. “You stupid, stupid girl. Of course I love you. Of course I do. The both of you. How could I not?”

Alex leaned down, pressing his forehead against Nate’s. “Maybe. But this—it’s better. This way. With you.”

“Good. Because I’m pretty sure you’re stuck with me.”

Something complicated crossed Alex’s face as he pulled back, but Nate was getting better at reading him. It was disbelief warring with hope.

It wasn’t earth-shattering. It wasn’t fireworks bursting. It was firm and dry, Alex’s stubble scraping against Nate’s chin. For a moment, he wasn’t even sure what was happening. But then he opened his mouth just a little and felt the press of a tongue against his, a quick swipe that caused him to whimper slightly in the back of his throat. Alex was breathing through his nose, and their hands were still clasped, the angle of all of it so damn 

 but it was more than Nate had ever felt before in his meager life.

Yeah. He understood heartbreak, all right.

Nate’s hands were trapped between them, curled into Alex’s flannel shirt, holding on for dear life. It wasn’t—they were off, just a little. Their knees knocked together more often than not, and Alex stepped on Nate’s feet more than once. If Nate wanted to do this properly, he’d probably step back just a little, put some space between them. But he was good with where he was, and Alex didn’t seem inclined to let him go anytime soon. It wasn’t the best dance in the world, but it was theirs, and it was enough.

Nate wondered when exactly he’d started to love them both. When he had allowed himself to feel something he didn’t think he was capable of.

He didn’t expect Alex to raise an arm. He didn’t expect the hand coming toward his face. The fingers trailing along his cheek. His jawline. The thumb brushing over his lips.

He leaned into it because it was the only thing he 

He turned his head slightly and pressed a dry kiss into Alex’s palm.

Alex’s eyes widened, but he didn’t pull away.

There, under an expanse of stars so very far away and a comet growing brighter by the hour, they laughed.

Nate felt like he was choking. “Artemis Darth Vader.”

“That’s my name, don’t wear it out.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like you before.”

“I should hope not. If you had, I would have to ask if you’d been anally probed before, and that would have been awkward. I probably would know the guy who did it.”

“You make yourselves a home out of nothing. You carry each other until your knees give out and you stumble. It’s almost impossible to understand. None of us could get that. Not until they felt a heart beating in a chest like I have. Not until I felt the bones beneath my skin. We’re not alike. Not really. We’re separated by time and space. And yet, somehow, we’re all made of dust and stars.”

“Like you were nothing but a speck of sand on a beach.”

“It’s humbling to find that out,” Art said. “Even in grief. Especially in grief, I think. You taught me that.”

Yes, they didn’t know what tomorrow would bring.

But here, now, in this moment, Nate was almost . . . happy.

He didn’t know what would happen when all was said and done.

If he would even have a life to go back to.

And yet, somehow, Nate felt more at peace than he had in a long time. He watched as Art dug her feet into the earth, trying to stop Alex from pulling her toward the pit toilet. And Alex was 

 He had a small smile on his face and crinkles around his eyes. His teeth were flashing, and he was 

 Nate’s breath was knocked from his chest at the sight.

As with all of his books that I’ve read, Klune wrote about what it means to be human in a cozy, adventure packed story. He is an auto read author for me at this point that always pulls me out of a reading slump. 

Abigail F

In the spring of 1995, Nate Cartwright has lost everything: his parents are dead, his older brother wants nothing to do with him, and he's been fired from his job as a journalist in Washington DC. With nothing left to lose, he returns to his family's summer cabin outside the small mountain town of Roseland, Oregon to try and find some sense of direction. The cabin should be empty. It's not. Inside is a man named Alex. And with him is an extraordinary little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. Artemis, who isn't exactly as she appears. Soon it becomes clear that Nate must make a choice: let himself drown in the memories of his past, or fight for a future he never thought possible. Because the girl is special. And forces are descending upon them who want nothing more than to control her. The Bones Beneath My Skin is a gripping, heartfelt story by bestselling author TJ Klune.

I liked this! more than green creek, not as much as his other standalones like under the whispering door. I think the concept is kooky but I liked it, and I thought the characters were fun! good soup

fris🐝

i have never met a TJ Klune book i didn’t love with everything i have

A mix between Stranger Things and The Last of Us with queer MCs. I liked the premise of this as well as the character personalities. 

I do however feel like the plot got lost along the way. Klune’s work also tends to get a little preachy/long-winded as his stories progress. 

Floofyflower

A mix between Stranger Things and The Last of Us with queer MCs. I liked the premise of this as well as the character personalities. 

I do however feel like the plot got lost along the way. Klune’s work also tends to get a little preachy/long-winded as his stories progress. 

“It means having your heart broken. There is nothing more human than a broken heart.”

Yet another brilliant, impactful 5 star read from T.J. Klune! 

This story has the usual Klune suspects—found family, amazing queer representation, precocious children who defy imagination, and so, so much humor.

There’s an overarching theme to this story about the nature of saying good-bye; goodbye to lost loved ones, good-bye to your childhood, good-bye to the versions of yourself you shed as you grow and change. And the meditations throughout on what the word “human” really means, were striking. 

Nate and Alex’s romance had me giggling and kicking my feet to the point that my category ten clinger of a dog left me and went to sleep in another room. Take that as you will. 

This one is for the star watchers and comet wishers. For the people who grew up watching ET and pressing their tiny index fingers to a staticky screen.

For those of us who dare to believe that—not only are we not alone in this vast and spiraling universe—but that when they do finally show themselves, humanity is capable of doing it right. If there’s a brave few willing to make the first step. 

(I do recommend looking up the trigger warnings for this book, because there’s some pretty heavy material to be found here.)

*Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Catherine

“It means having your heart broken. There is nothing more human than a broken heart.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Yet another brilliant, impactful 5 star read from T.J. Klune! 

This story has the usual Klune suspects—found family, amazing queer representation, precocious children who defy imagination, and so, so much humor.

There’s an overarching theme to this story about the nature of saying good-bye; goodbye to lost loved ones, good-bye to your childhood, good-bye to the versions of yourself you shed as you grow and change. And the meditations throughout on what the word “human” really means, were striking. 

Nate and Alex’s romance had me giggling and kicking my feet to the point that my category ten clinger of a dog left me and went to sleep in another room. Take that as you will. 

This one is for the star watchers and comet wishers. For the people who grew up watching ET and pressing their tiny index fingers to a staticky screen.

For those of us who dare to believe that—not only are we not alone in this vast and spiraling universe—but that when they do finally show themselves, humanity is capable of doing it right. If there’s a brave few willing to make the first step. 

(I do recommend looking up the trigger warnings for this book, because there’s some pretty heavy material to be found here.)

✨OUT ON FEBRUARY 4TH, 2025✨

*Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

In the spring of 1995, Nate Cartwright has lost everything: his parents are dead, his older brother wants nothing to do with him, and he's been fired from his job as a journalist in Washington DC. With nothing left to lose, he returns to his family's summer cabin outside the small mountain town of Roseland, Oregon to try and find some sense of direction. The cabin should be empty. It's not. Inside is a man named Alex. And with him is an extraordinary little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. Artemis, who isn't exactly as she appears. Soon it becomes clear that Nate must make a choice: let himself drown in the memories of his past, or fight for a future he never thought possible. Because the girl is special. And forces are descending upon them who want nothing more than to control her.

Ariel Himboi

Stunning. Breathtaking. The usual.

Klune has a way with words. His story telling is human, and warm but also filled with so much heart it's hard to not feel everything at once. This story especially was something that hit hard. Chosen family, aliens, and craziness that kept coming. I was in love with the characters- who wouldn't be? He has a way of writing strange Dynamics, characters and relationships that take you on an ADVENTURE.

I absolutely adored this story. I can say quite honestly that I have spent the past three hours reading this non-stop. I needed to know what would happen. You never know if Klune is going to leave you with a broken heart! ( In most cases .. he won't ) 

From start to finish I knew Klune was creating a story I wouldn't forget. A man trying to survive his past family, a girl alien thing finding home and safety, and a man who saved them both and himself. 

I especially love that Klune focus on family, wether they are found such as these characters and Ox from Green Creek, or born with such as Sam of Wilds from Verania. There is never a cliche or overly written familial relationship between any of the characters. 

They all feel real, these stories feel real and I can't wait to see what Klune does next. I will always support his books and the direction he's going. I hope that all of you can support him too. These books are important.

Jo H

4.5 stars. 

The thing is, TJ can write. Like no one else that I've ever come across I think. I'm sure I could pick up a book and not know he wrote it, but soon figure it out pretty quick from the prose. 

This book is typical TJ in style, but there was a little something missing that stopped it being a 5 star read like all of his other books I've read bar one. And maybe, like that book (Murmuration, which even now months later I'm still not sure if I even liked it) I'm not totally sure I get it. 

That being said, Artemis Darth Vadar has to be one of the most interesting characters I've ever come across and her personality foibles, given her background, are just so adorable.

The Bones Beneath My Skin

Reviews

Highlights