The Bone Inventory

by Marissa Lupe

They aren't coming, they're already here.




Brad likes this body. He may not know much, but he knows he'd do anything to stay in it and go on a date with the girl of his dreams. If only his overprotective handler would stop being so creepy and let him live his life.

But that can't happen, because Brad isn't really Brad, he's a Stathos, a species of data collectors traveling the universe to protect the stars.

When he receives a new assignment, Brad senses something is wrong. Pieces of his memory slip away, and his handler feels less like a friendly and more like a stalker.

As visions of his past lives come back to him in pieces, he starts to wonder what his, and the other Stathos's true intentions are. Are they really trying to save Earth, or dominate it? Can Brad's love for one girl convince the others that humans aren't a threat to the planet?




For fans of the 'Body Snatchers' by Jack Finney and 'The Host' by Stephenie Meyer, this fast-paced sci-fi romance is like watching a season of 'Roswell New Mexico' with your favorite date.




A standalone novel that is also a prequel to the Stars Like Acid series. Can be read separately.

Genres: Science Fiction

250 pages, Paperback

Published September 18, 2024

About the author

Marissa, Latina (she/her) of mixed heritage, has always found her safe place in the world of stories. Now, she’s creating her own worlds in the scope of speculative fiction and hopes to provide the same joy to her readers.
She currently lives in the Rocky Mountains of western Colorado with her family, connecting with the soul of the Earth through the appreciation of nature.
Stars Like Acid, is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of an alien whose main objective is to collect data on Earth. However, their plan hits a snag when they realize that they have no memory of who they are. The Bone Inventory takes you on a wild adventure as our alien tries to discover who they are and where they fit into this world without losing the love of their life. This body-snatcher romance brings up many questions and flows easily into the first novel of the Stars series.
As with all of Marissa's writing, this prequel has a great story to tell and many things to consider. I can't wait to see how this series will conclude!

[MellissaMae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this sci-fi novel like an alien sucking up Earth's snacks! Initially, I tried piecing together how it'd link up with the others, considering they were extraterrestrial-free zones. Early on, I took some wild stabs, and by the finale, everything magically aligned. Those surprise memories “Brad” dug up, especially Spencer-related ones, totally threw me. Marissa's writing is pure magic, folks!

[Jessica Grooms · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is out of this world 🤪 This book, just like Stars Like Acid (which is AMAZING) is something that I don't normally read. But I am so dang glad that I found them! I love the storyline, the characters that I can actually relate to, and the different look on this world. Marissa's writing style is unreal and I love getting lost in her worlds 💜💜

[Amber Crook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rissa does a beautiful job painting a picture of her world and how it has become this dystopian society. There was so much mystery, intrigue, and surprises that I didn't see coming! It was thrilling to see all of the pieces start to come together in her story, and makes me even more excited for the conclusion of her series!

I want to say more, but the big thing I want to say would be a spoiler so...I'll let it at that and tell you to pick up this series!

[Evy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say?? Well, just be ready to immerse yourself in a creepy-ish romantic, fast-paced story about aliens and humans with lots of drama. Like always, Marissa writes in a way that blows your mind. This novella is super fun. It might actually surprise you how good this alien love story is, with lots of funny moments.

Btw. this novella, is actually a prequel of the “Stars Like Acid” ✨ series but it can also be read as stand alone. 🤩

“They aren’t coming, they’re already here.”

[Amanda Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alien body snatcher romance. It’s never quite that simple. When you can live forever, traipsing the galaxy with the no end goal hey would you stay on Earth? Unless you found the one you’re meant to be with… but is it mutual? Will the others let you stray from your mission?
I loved this read so much. It’s uniqueness was draws you in, and you have to know what happens next. The character personalities had me giggling consistently. Even if sci-fi isn’t your norm, you should give it a read ;)

[Marissa Lupe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always wanted to write a creepy alien romance, and this hit the nail on the head! And the way it ties into my STARS LIKE ACID series is just icing on the cake!
I hope you enjoy it, and thank you for reading.

[Escape_withStephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
I keep asking how i find books like these and actually enjoy it. Talia's life flipped upside down when she met brad and brad's life began when he met her. This was like mixing romance and sci-fi with a pinch of controlling "parents". Pretty fast and wholesome read.

[Rachelle Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sci-Fi is not usually my preferred genre, but I absolutely love Marissa’s work. This is a very fun story with compelling drama.
I couldn’t put it down. Both main characters were engaging and the aliens were very believable. I really love the way this one connects to the main story of Stars lie Acid.
I can’t wait to read more.
This hits one of my favorite tropes, “He Fell First”. How the romance plays out is well written and i thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Nikki Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We fight for the stars, and the stars for us.”

I can always count on Marissa Lupe for three things: A diverse cast of characters, beautiful graphics printed on her pages, and an action-packed Sci-Fi story. Marissa and I have been instagram buddies for a while now, and I loved her debut novel, Stars Like Acid, so when she told me that The Bone Inventory was a prequel to the Stars Like Acid series, I signed up to be an ARC reader without hesitation!

Chapter one hooked me right away and left me wanting to know more. I love when a book drops you into action with just enough mystery to keep you turning the page. I ended up finishing the book in 3 days because I found myself thinking about it and wondering where it was all headed.
I also enjoyed that each chapter title was a song. When I asked Marissa about it, she said the songs represent the mood of each chapter- sort of like a book soundtrack!

The Bone Inventory is described as having vibes similar to The Host by Stephanie Meyer and I couldn't agree more. If you like sci-fi stories with strong relationship storylines you will like The Bone Inventory. Check it out!