Review - A Bone in His Teeth by Kellen Graves 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Five Stars Sometimes a book just hits so hard that it's impossible to think of anything else for days, maybe even weeks. A Bone in His Teeth bridges multiple genres (horror, dark fantasy and romance) that Graves masterfully combines into something that is atmospheric, gritty and yet sweet. The story follows Alba as he is granted the opportunity to flee his hometown and age-old family debts in order to search for his missing mother. Alba's search leads him to an old fishing village where the people are strange and suspicious. There, he takes up the position of lighthouse keeper. Isolated from the village, Alba encounters Eridanys, a merman who is on his own mission. When Alba's debtors catch up with him, Eridanys is only too happy to help dispose of them. The more time they spend together, the more feelings grow, even if they do feel taboo.  (ID- Cover of A Bone in His Teeth by Kellen Graves) I really love the care with which Graves has written Alba as an Own Voice author. They don’t linger on Alba's gender, nor do they reveal to the reader that the character is trans masc until well over the halfway point. Even then, it's handled deliberately in a subtle way, where it's not a plot point but instead builds a more queer-normative narrative. Alba's disability is also realistically present; his injury and use of a walking aid are always visible and always inconvenient. His disability doesn’t magically heal or disappear to suit the plot. |
 Eridanys presents an equally complex character as the monster and the love interest. As he is mer and not fully human, his liminal identity connects the sea with the world above. He belongs and doesn’t belong, and there is an othering and a loneliness that mirrors the experiences of many who have struggled with their own queer identity. Thematically, the novel explores transformation, physical, emotional, and relational. The horror elements are not just there for shock; they highlight the characters’ internal struggles with desire, repression, and self-acceptance. There’s a raw vulnerability in how longing is portrayed. The love is dark and complex; it’s consuming and frightening, often indistinguishable from hunger. The visceral reactions this book gave me are beyond anything that I have ever experienced before or since. This is the perfect read for those long and moody nights (add in a sea storm for the ideal conditions). If you want to be a little bit scared, confused, and even aroused, then this should be up next on your reading list. I always recommend that people read the trigger warnings before starting any book, especially this one. There is a lot going on that can be upsetting, including violence, death and graphic (consensual) sex. Turn those pages! Ezzy (She/They) |