Cadaver Bone

by Wendy Dalrymple

After an injury leaves her with a destroyed knee, Mia finds herself in need of surgery and a new ACL. The surgery is a success, but as she heals and the drug induced post-op phase wears off, Mia realizes that something has gone very, very wrong. CADAVER BONE is a pink horror meditation on the price of lies and how far someone will go to right their wrongs.

Genres: Horror

90 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 2, 2024

About the author

Wendy Dalrymple loves to explore the beauty in horrific things.. When she’s not writing #pinkhorror or Florida Gothic horror, you can find her hiking with her family, painting (bad) wall art, and trying to grow as many pineapples as possible. Follow her on IG or TikTok @wendydalrymplewrites.
Www.wendydalrymple.com

Reviews

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited for this book, body horror is one of my favorite genre of horror and with Dalrymple's usual pink horror spin I was sure it would be glorious. It absolutely lived up to my expectations.

I loved the main character she felt fully realized and like she could be real. Also, the ending was so satisfying, I loved it. It was a really quick read but it never felt like it was rushed or like it needed more space.

[Bon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy to review - I loved this. You can buy Cadaver Bone today, wherever you buy books, and I highly recommend you do.

TW for vivid descriptions of leg surgery and pain, first and foremost. I was worried it might trigger me as I suffered a similar debilitation as our protag and didn't recover half as well, but the story is so well written, fast paced and engaging that I barely winced. High, high praise is deserved here.

Wendy Dalrymple's latest horror story is another brilliant example of the growing Pink Horror genre that she promotes. It's a sub-genre sandbox filled with vibrant colors, modern tech and relatable chills. Pink horror is often very contemporary, feminist, suburban-feeling horror that feels as if it could happen to anyone; Cadaver Bone is perhaps my favorite yet. Dalrymple seamlessly weaves the trauma of a mobility-impairing injury and highly emotional recovery period, wherein you're usually dependent on others for a lot of your daily routine, with a domestic suspense-filled ghost story. The result felt a bit like the horror movie The Eye meets Mean Girls, and was absolutely fantastic.

I won't say much more because it'll give away too much of this high-octane novella, but it featured some of my favorite horror tropes all in one. I'd also like to commend the amazing cover design.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wendy’s “pink horror” story takes a uniquely supernatural spin on body horror. I really empathized with Mia’s feeling of “wrongness” post surgery, despite being invalidated by everyone around her. It’s not far off from a medical reality that women often deal with.

“It’s happening, the voice whispered. You’ll see. Soon. Everything will be as it should be.”

Mia, the main character did drive me crazy at times, and I felt she could’ve tried to advocate for herself a bit better, but she was also incapacitated and on strong drugs to help with the pain, so I get it. It was just frustrating to read and not be able to step in and help her.

“The image of my leg separating in two, the joint snapping and meat tearing away like a chicken wing flashed before my eyes as I tried to focus on getting inside the house.”

The author has a great way with words and descriptions, so despite the content, this was a very captivating read.

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOODNESS! An operation to the knee, strange things happening after that (which reminds of some other horror movies/stuff that I read/saw), a fiancee who is a total ass, an MC who at times was a bit hard to like (like seriously, especially when we learn some things about her past), awesome twists and turns, and more. And that ENDING! OMG!
This had me on the edge of the seat while reading and I love it. Wendy Dalrymple is fast becoming one of my favourite authors!

[Damien Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a kid I had an unreasonably large fear of accidentally eating someone’s big toe and then being haunted by them forever. It’s a little irrational, sure; but at least I didn’t have to worry about all of THIS like I do now. Cadaver Bone feels like Wendy Dalrymple conjured up a classic ghost story and went into Sam Raimi directing Drag Me to Hell mode. It’s creepy, it’s fun, it’s odd; the three main ingredients of a Dalrymple novel. If you read Wendy’s books, you know you’re going to get some of the best character work and feel like you’re under the Florida sun. Cadaver Bone is another banger to add to the list of Dalrymple titles. When is someone going to produce a Tales from the Crypt style show based on these gothic hot pink Floridian vibes?

[Katie O’Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 to 4.5 🌟

Loved this one, too! It started off slowly but the ending was amazing.

There’s no justice in this world but at least we have this book.

Here’s my other impressions:

“that’s what you get”

“ew yes”

“I feel filled with female rage, but in a good way”

This author is so good at novellas ✨

[L.C. Marino]

Admittedly, I infrequently read body horror, but I truly enjoyed this story's premise and the departure from my norms. A fast, easy read, this novella made for a fun afternoon jaunt to balmy Florida for a post-op adventure to the dark side. The final few chapters and the twist at the end made me smile. Thanks for a fun first Wendy Dalrymple read!

[Toni L · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and haunting concept, lots of eerie moments.

[Adam Hulse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can body horror be fun? Wendy Dalrymple replies, "Absolutely!" Cadaver Bone WAS a fun read I devoured in one sitting. This is only possible due to Dalrymple's ability to write some truly unique stories. The gross imperfections of everyday relationships are presented to you in a way that has you addicted to the characters' latest dramas. This would be enough for me to read the whole thing, but then you're hit with INSANE scenarios and clever plot connections, which really mark it above a lot of other stories. Dalrymple is assembling a back catalogue of thrilling reads, and Cadaver Bone takes its rightful place amongst them.

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorites by Wendy along with It Doesn't Go Away

I love body horror and honestly that title got me. Part Body horror, part possession story, ALL PINK HORROR and I was here for it. The main character goes through an incredibly painful operation and subsequent recovery. I've dealt with chronic pain for years I found so many of the lines in this one deeply relatable. Don't you just love when a book speaks directly to you.

[Joey Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendy Dalrymple has crafted a perfect quick horror summer read.

Set under the Floridian sun, Cadaver Bone follows Mia, who undergoes an extensive procedure on her knee. During the recovery process, she tries to put her focus on planning her wedding with Dex, a guy she starts to realize she probably shouldn't be marrying as very strange things begin to happen with her psyche.

Could it have something to do with her knee?

What follows is an excellently paced plot with a horror trope that's been tackled by the greats, but never quite in the way this story unfolds thanks to Dalrymple's clever subversion.

Just as the title suggests, Cadaver Bone gets under your skin and lingers.

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendy Dalrymple has this amazing ability to write horror that I can't seem to get enough of. What do I mean? Well she writes these relatable, fun to read stories that have a touch of something extra, you know like a bit of cadaver bone.
Cadaver Bone is a great installment to Dalrymple's Florida Gothic collection. It is quick paced, well fleshed out story that grabs you with its lil fluffy pink horrific teeth. I love that I can never quite guess where Dalrymple is going to lead us, even when tackling a 'classic' horror theme. The unpredictability of her work is one of my favorite parts.

[cleo · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.
Girl code… friendship always wins… good for her… yes, all men… strength in numbers, etc… 🖤
This novella should be dubbed the poster child for bubblegum horror henceforth. Horror authors, take note!
Towards the end it quickly became apparent where the story was headed. I wanted so badly to bust out some bright pink pom-poms and cheer to my heart’s content for Mia and Fallon.
I am convinced that anyone who reads this will find pieces of themselves in between the pages, in one way or another.

[Robin Dickert · Rating 4 out of 5]

'I had hoped to avoid knee surgery altogether after the accident.'

Mia isn't feeling quite like herself after her knee surgery. This book is a lot of suspenseful fun as Mia experiences a mysterious and surprising post-op...recovery? I read this one with a maniacal grin on my face.

'I closed my eyes and exhaled a slow, ragged breath. These next few weeks were going to be hell.'

[Robert Kluver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cadaver Bone is a quick, compelling read about a relationship on the rocks and a surgery with unintended consequences. It’s a fun, surprising novella with well-drawn characters and teeth-gritting body horror.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting story. Felt like a different take on a revenge ghost story. It was short but really packed with storytelling. The author writes so descriptively that it's easy to picture everything.

[Kelly| Just Another Horror Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun installment in Dalrymple’s Florida Gothic series!

[Coy Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly readable -- as is everything by Wendy Dalrymple. You can't go wrong with any of the titles in her Florida Gothic series. A fun slash of body horror, and a quick read at ~90 pages.

[Natalie C · Rating 3 out of 5]

this felt like a tales from the crypt episode

[Lindsay Parrish-Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, yet impactful, punch in the relationship gut about a fiancé who seems a little too aloof while the other person is at their most vulnerable. A quick read with a pretty good ending!

[Kaitlen Shumate · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story itself was 4 stars for me but giving 2.5 stars because the FMC was SO whiney and annoying.

[Wanda Tennyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Body horror art is finest! Just read it, you will be amazed!

[N.J. Gallegos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Body horror galore in this one! A quick read about a woman who tears her ACL and ends up with cadaver tissue in her knee. She undergoes physical and personality changes, struggles with her douchey fiancé, and finds out that grudges can last beyond death.

[Drew Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, enjoyable pink horror!

Another great entry in the Florida Gothic series. This one's a quick read, but still good, with a twist or two.