I chose this book to read because we are always looking for updated historical fiction for our high school library. I would have liked to be able to read this book and recommend it, but it was hard to read. Very disjointed and too many duplicate words. I am looking for books geared to reluctant readers.

This was an interesting book. It was hard for me to get into it because I wasn’t really invested in any of the characters (I was thinking about Spider but I knew a dog wouldn’t fare well in the Starving Time). I understand it was a horrific time (and this book does deliver on the horror) but it was horrific in more layers than this novel touched upon. I’m left feeling a bit unsettled after reading this which feels like the perfect reaction to a book depicting colonization. Ellis was an interesting choice for a narrator. I felt like her limited perspective shined more light on the tragedy of her own life than it did the tragedy of colonizers stealing land, food, and lives from the indigenous people. While Ellis’ story was tragic I didn’t think it was the biggest tragedy. I will say her limited perspective did lend more horror and dread to the tone. Ellis became an indentured servant in the colonies after her mother and sister died and she hopes to find her father who left and didn’t return.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. This story was beautiful historical fiction pulled from historical nonfiction. I have to say the beginning was a bit slow for me to get into, but I find that common with most historical fiction novels. Once the story gets going you truly connect with the characters.

To the Bone was a tense historical fiction story about a girl name Ellis, newly settled in an American colony. As the weather grows cold and the food runs low and people begin to turn against each other, the book twists into the horror genre.

First things first, I was worried stepping into this book that it would glorify colonialism and all that (which is icky). But I was pleasantly surprised! I can't really speak to if the representation was FLAWLESS, but it seems like the author made a genuine attempt at tackling the issue while keeping it historically accurate. The character often thinks/talks about how they are stealing land and shouldn't be there, and the Author's Note at the end of the book goes more into the language used and the history behind it all.

Second, I am not sure I would call this book YA. It starts off alright, but gets a bit disturbing towards the end, and tackles some more adult subjects. (See TWs below.) It may be better for older teens or the "New Adult" audience.

Third: my actual review! I really liked this book! It was short, fast-paced, and the perfect amounts of dark and twisted. I did swing between loving and hating the writing style--it was very unique and prose-like, which I adore. But it annoyed me when the same things were described or thought over and over again (Jane, wickedness, hair pulling, etc.), which was definitely part of the "style" of this book and an intentional quirk of the main character. The repetition just made these elements lose their punch or intrigue or whatever you call it. Other than that, I really enjoyed To the Bone! It would be perfect for anyone looking for a historical fiction that swings more towards horror.

Trigger Warnings! (may contain spoilers)
>> Colonization: The story is about a group of colonizers and colonization. There are brief references to genocide. The settlers also use racist language and have racist views towards the indigenous people.
>> Lesbophobia: The main character has a relationship with another girl and thinks she is "wicked". She is told so by the man she works for.
>> Abuse: The main character lives with and works for a married couple. The man is abusive towards his wife and her.
>> Pregnancy: The woman becomes pregnant and the main character helps her abort/miscarry with herbs.
>> Self-harm: The main character often anxiously picks at her skin, pinches her arm, and pulls out her hair.
>> Cannibalism: People. Starving. Om nom nom.
Also just lots of blood and gore and disturbing stuff especially towards the end of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was brutal. Brutal and heartbreaking and it left me with a lump in my throat as I finished it. I am not a history buff so I’m not going to comment on the historical accuracy/inaccuracy I’m sure there’s other reviews that could do it more justice.

Since we didn’t know the age of any of our characters, I’m not quite sure how to look at Ellis. She is naive in a lot of things in the beginning and seems a little young at times but older in other instances. The trio of friends was so sweet and I was dreading so much finishing and seeing things fall apart. Ellis and Jane were so cute when they were together and I hate so much it turned to tragedy. Henry was the worst and I was waiting for someone to just smack him in the head and it came way too late. I felt so bad for his wife honestly. You could tell he was a creep and an abuser from the beginning and Ellis wasn’t able to see all the obvious red flags.

It was never said if Rowan was gay or ace because he said he wasn’t interested in girls but my head canon was he was ace. He was also my favorite character.

If you enjoy books with historical settings or just books that depress you I would say this was a good and super quick read. Also if you want cannibalism to be a main theme it’s not a huge part of the plot. Neither is the sapphic relationship really.

I feel like I should sit on this one for a bit before reviewing, but I want to get this out… I adore Alena Bruzas. I was so incredibly moved by Ever Since and so I had to trust that Bruzas knew the scope of this story and the gravity of telling this story. Bruzas tells this story from the pov of the colonizer, which had me a little nervous at first. I was wondering what I was supposed to be feeling.

Ultimately, this was a truly heartbreaking story that was written so well. Bruzas KNEW what she was doing. This is a historical fiction based party in factual truth, and it tells the story of an English settlement in Virginia, living off and claiming native land they had no right to.

I can see that this is one that will probably have polarizing views, but I found it to be such a captivating story. The work on restoring native lands to their rightful owners is something I have been learning more about in the past few years. I implore you to check out the author’s note AND the trigger warnings.

Fascinating look at the Jamestown period through a new lens. Telling the story through the eyes of a female indentured servant allows the exposure of the behaviors and intentions of the (male) leadership class. The constraints of being poor and of being a woman become apparent... as well as how they are prevented from aligning themselves with other oppressed populations in order to gain power.

The author's note is valuable in illuminating what is based on fact... and the book provides resources for further exploration of this period in history.

I was gripped from page one, before I even knew if I was going to like the book. This book could appeal to folks who like historical fiction, and folks who like suspense (even if they don't usually read the two genres together!). There is so much conflict deftly woven into the plot: conflict between social stratas, Native Americans ("country men" or "salvages") versus colonists, man versus woman, and man versus nature. Ellis slowly realizes throughout by the actions of others how little right she and the other settlers have to what they assumed could be theirs. Ellis may be afraid to go beyond the walls, but it becomes clear that staying inside the walls is no safer. Her questions cause ire in Master Collins, and she begins to lose herself in trying to be a "good girl."

Does the dog die, and other questions: <spoiler> When Rowan dies, his dog Spider is forgotten about but survives inside the walls -- Ellis struggles to save Spider from being eaten by Rebecca and manages to get the dog beyond the walls. She struggles with the guilt of having taken food away from someone who may have otherwise survived, just as she struggles with the guilt of desiring Jane and the guilt of doing what others have been doing to survive -- eating the dead. At the very end, I am happy to say it does not appear the dog dies. </spoiler>

I am still consumed with thoughts of this book, and rethinking over parts of it for hints of what may come beyond the pages -- is there hope?

Following a young woman who is an indentured servant in 1609 Jamestown, this historical fiction
explores several horrors, including colonialism, hunger, misogyny, and homophobia.
I enjoyed the atmosphere of this novel, there was so much tension, dread, disgust, and despair, and the sensation of all of that was very palpable. The historical setting was interesting and incorporated a lot of real details and events. The writing style felt a bit detached, but I think it worked with the general vibe. It felt cinematic in a way, and I could definitely picture this as a horror film.
Thank you to Penguin Teen for the ARC!

Bruzas’s writing is both lyrical and intense, capturing the reader’s attention with a compelling narrative and well-crafted characters. The story’s exploration of deep psychological and emotional landscapes makes it a thought-provoking read. With its powerful prose and captivating plot, "To the Bone" is a standout work that lingers long after the final page.

To the Bone by Alena Bruzas is a riveting and emotionally charged novel that delves deep into the human experience with its poignant storytelling. Bruzas’ rich character development and evocative prose create a compelling narrative that resonates on a profound level. The book’s exploration of complex themes and heartfelt moments makes it a standout read that lingers long after the final page.

What an exciting and fascinating look at the beginnings of life in the United States! Loved the historical fiction aspects and how they tied into the lives of the settlers. I could truly picture what life was like for these individuals.

This was the strangest book I think I have ever read. I was getting confused and had to reread a few parts of this book. I would still recommend this book.

This is a hard one to rate. It is in no way a light, happy story. This is historical fiction at its ugliest. Despite the various serious (and abhorrent) events depicted, this book also skillfully describes small moments of pure joy and hope. For the quality of the writing alone…4 stars

This book was surprisingly easy to get into despite being very light on the characterization and plot. The setting is well-researched and there’s so much discussion around the native people having already been there and the settlers never should have come. The villain of the story is an abusive husband who only values his wife for her pregnancy (that she doesn’t even want because everyone is starving and so many are dying).

This YA historical fiction horror story set during starving time during early American colonialism is such an interesting book. It's entirely told through Ellis pov. She came to America as a maid to assist Mister and Mistress Collins. She goes through a lot to include watching many of the other settlers die and there is some abuse from Mister Collins. This was definitely a different take of a historical fiction novel and I really enjoyed it.

What was it like to come to the New World as an indentured servant to a married couple in Colonial times? The story is told from the eyes of a young man. He sees anger and cruelty from his Master. His Mistress is mistreated and shrinks from life. Finally, the ultimate secret of revolting behavior employed for survival, is revealed. It is a shocking read but historically needed. My thanks to the author and NetGalley for a complimentary copy.

This one was not a happy story. Settling in America wasn't ever as glamorous as he history books lead us to believe, and this takes a look at the darker side.

Wow, I’m having trouble describing how fast I read this book. “Devoured” isn’t sitting right given this book has cannibalism mentions. 😬 (Sorry, I’m laughing even though the topic of this book is not funny!) It actually left me full of rage, at the colonialism and the settlers at James Fort (same as Jamestown I think?), given this book is technically fiction but based on real events/people/towns. I really appreciated the author’s note at the end, where she clarifies which is fiction vs fact.

My heart broke for the FMC Ellis, who had only come to America because she had no family left behind and a small hope her father was alive somewhere here. She is indentured to quite the couple: a wife that is so sick she barely ever gets out of bed, and a husband who treats her poorly and whips her for any indiscretion. Especially if she sees her friend Jane, since he can see their relationship isn’t quite platonic. Add to that the growing food shortage, and not being able to leave the fort because they made enemies with the “country people,” things get intense real fast.

This book is YA, but definitely be mindful of some of these topics and content warnings. I still would recommend the book for everyone to read, especially just to understand what the settlers went through and the history of our country (the US), more.

Oh my! Alena Bruzas inadvertently took me a deliriously torturous journey with this story of early America. I was horrified in the best way.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Rocky Pond Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.