The Bones Beneath My Skin

The Bones Beneath My Skin is a novel by American author T. J. Klune about a man named Nate, who returns to his family cabin in Oregon after the violent deaths of his parents. When he encounters two mysterious strangers, Alex and Art, his discovery that Art is actually an alien consciousness in the body of a young girl will force him to reconsider his outlook on his own life and on the universe itself. 

Known for writing LGBTQ+ fantasy novels, T. J. Klune is a New York Times best-selling author who has written an array of standalone novels and series. The first novel of his Cerulean Chronicles, The House in the Cerulean Sea—has been honored with the Mythopoeic Scholarship Award for Adult Literature, and he has also garnered the Lambda Literary Award for Into This River I Drown and the Gold Nautilus Book Award for The Extraordinaries. Published in 2025, The Bones Beneath My Skin is a science fiction novel that explores themes such as The Healing Influence of Found Family, The Impact of Loss and Grief, and The Tension between Love and Control. 

This guide refers to the Kindle edition of the novel.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of death, graphic violence, death by suicide, anti-gay bias, sexual content, and cursing.

Plot Summary

In March of 1995, Nate Cartwright returns to Roseland, Oregon following the deaths of his parents and the dissolution of his career. His father had killed his mother and then died by suicide. Nate has inherited their cabin. Now, Nate feels a deep sadness and ambivalence, not having been in contact with his parents for many years. Years prior, Nate had been disowned by his parents after they discovered he was gay. Upon arriving at the inherited cabin, Nate encounters two individuals: Alex, an injured man, and a young girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader (Art). Alex initially threatens Nate at gunpoint but collapses from his injuries.

Over several days, Nate coexists uneasily with Alex and Art in the cabin. Though Alex remains guarded about the pair’s circumstances, Art gradually reveals more information. Nate notices peculiarities about Art’s behavior, including her unfamiliarity with common items like bacon and toast. When investigating Alex’s wound, Nate discovers that it appears healed despite its apparent severity. Nate had believed that Alex was suffering from an open gunshot wound, but he now discovers only bruises beneath Alex’s shirt.

Suspicious of the intruders, Nate contacts an old coworker at his previous newspaper for help in investigating the true identities of Alex and Art. His colleague, Ruth, discovers that Alex’s real name is Alex Weir; Alex went AWOL from a military base known as the Mountain. The situation escalates when a man identifying himself as Randy from the county Public Works Department visits the cabin. After learning that Randy is an imposter and that the real water technician was murdered, Nate, Art, and Alex attempt to flee but are confronted by military forces. During their escape, Art reveals her true nature as an alien, using telekinetic powers to protect them from gunfire and destroy the pursuing vehicles.

Art and Alex decide that it is finally time to tell Alex about their true identities, especially since he has witnessed Art’s powers firsthand. Art explains her origins. Thirty years ago, she was discovered during an alien reconnaissance mission and took control of the body of the hunter who found her and her companions. The Mountain facility captured her and conducted experiments. Eventually, after many years, they managed to force Art out of the hunter’s body and into the body of a comatose young girl, who regained consciousness with Art’s mind. At the Mountain, she met Alex, who became her protector and helped her escape after witnessing the facility’s cruel treatment of her. Alex later reveals that he was chosen for the program due to his own grief over losing his family.

The group travels to Pennsylvania to meet Oren, now known as Peter Williams, the hunter whom Art initially possessed. They find him leading a cult centered around his beliefs in the transcendence of aliens. During their stay, Nate and Alex develop romantic feelings for each other. However, Peter reveals his true nature as an enemy when he poisons Nate and Alex. After tying them up, he forces them to play Russian roulette and reveals that he has led his followers in a mass suicide. Peter believes that Art chose him to spread her “holy gospel,” and he demands that she take him to her ship.

Art manages to free Nate and Alex from Peter’s control, and Alex kills Peter. Suddenly, the Mountain’s forces, led by Randy, surround the compound. In the ensuing confrontation, Art uses her powers to stop a barrage of bullets, and Alex kills Randy. The government subsequently covers up the incident by blaming Peter’s cult.

Art then leads Nate and Alex to West Virginia, where her alien family opens a portal to retrieve her. However, instead of leaving, Art chooses to stay with Nate and Alex, deciding to live as a human and age naturally. The story concludes 18 years later in Newfoundland, where Nate and Alex (now living under the aliases Nolan and Aaron) have married and live with Art (now called Ellie). Art reveals that her family is returning, not just for her, but to reveal themselves to humanity and to help establish peace. The novel ends with Art recording a message to the world, introducing herself and declaring that she is here in the service of “peace.”