See These Bones by Chris Tullbane ★★★★★
“Because we’re training to be Capes, you asshole! Capes save people. They don’t make things worse for them. Even when those people are dicks who really, really deserve it.”
I received this e-book from Netgalley. This does not affect my review or opinion. All thoughts are my own and I’m being 100 percent honest. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me this e-book for reviewing purposes.
See These Bones is an amazing book. I loved everything about it. The story was very intriguing and unique. The characters were well-written and diverse. I did have to push myself to start reading it, but that’s on me because once I started the book I couldn’t stop. I kept thinking about these personas and what was going to happen next.
Some superheroes want to save the world. Damian is just hoping to save himself.
In the post-Break world of superpowers, necromancy is the one gift nobody wants. Everyone knows what happens to Crows; they go mad and they go bad. That’s the story of infamous mass murderers like Crimson Death, Gravedigger, and Sally Cemetery. It’s also the story of David Jameson, an otherwise unremarkable man who came home one day and killed his wife, orphaning their five-year-old son, Damian.
Thirteen years later, Damian has inherited more than just grey eyes and a beak of a nose from his father. He too is a Crow, doomed to become a killer unless he can find a way to avoid the violent madness endemic to his powers. When a Finder offers enrollment at Los Angeles’ Academy of Superheroes, he jumps at the chance, believing training could be the key to changing his fate. His classmates despise him, the majority of his teachers want him expelled, and his mom’s ghost hasn’t said a word since reappearing when he was nine, but Damian isn’t the kind to give up. He’s going to take control of his destiny or die in the process.
It’s that or end up like his father.
The plot of See These Bones is quite unique because we see the whole superhero-thing from a different perspective. I am a huge fan of Marissa Meyer’s Renegades series so it was obvious I was going to like this novel as well. Now what makes See These Bones so different is the fact that the main character is a necromancer. He is doomed and people are certain he is destined to do terrible things. We see him, Damian, try to change his destiny. This story was action-packed, I never once got bored.
This book has a lot of representation. There are people of color in this book and more than one. There are also characters who aren’t straight and in same-sex relationships. I love reading books with a diverse cast. It adds so much to the book and story.
I liked Damian’s character, he is very special. He acts all tough but Tullbane makes sure the person reading knows he’s only human and has insecurities. Damian definitely goes through a lot in See These Bones, but he grows a lot too. He gave me a Deadpool-vibe and it suited the story. Damian is funny, or he at least tries to be. He is violent and swears a lot, but that didn’t bother me because I am a Deadpool fan so I enjoyed reading about Damian and his adventure.
There are friendships formed in See These Bones and they are everything. I expected the main character to be a loner because he is different but the way he created beautiful friendships with some of his classmates was really heartwarming. He lowers his guard when he’s with them and it was nice to read.
I like the cover, but I don’t really think it has anything to do with the book.
Would I recommend this book? Yes! Yes! Yes!!!! As you can see, there wasn’t a thing I didn’t like. This is my first 5-star read of the year and it was literally amazing. The rep in See These Bones was good, the story was unique and I liked the main character. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
Chris Tullbane is a former software engineer, long-time husband, and the author of two ongoing series, The Many Travails of John Smith and The Murder of Crows. Chris began as a gleam in someone’s eye, but birth and childhood were quick to follow. He’s been fortunate enough to live in Spain, Germany, and all over the United States of America, and is busy planning a tour of the distilleries of Scotland.
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