Your Blood, My Bones takes place on an isolated farm on the border of a sinister forest in Maine. Wyatt's mother took her and ran off to get her away from a weird cult her father was running. When he dies, she returns to the abandoned farm to burn it down. But on a final investigation, she finds her old friend, Peter, chained up in the basement and learns the true nature of what her father was doing. Now the forest is trying to get in, strange creatures are knocking at her door, and there's some form of beast in the forest who wants her dead. On top of this, her other old friend, James, keeps calling her - on a disconnected phone that shouldn't be ringing. If Wyatt can't figure out a way to raise the wards on the land and defeat the beast, the forest will swallow her and everything she loves whole.

This book was heavy on the horror elements and a lot of darkness. I don't think I was the intended readership for this as, reading the description, I thought it was going to be about a former cult, more of a psychological thriller type thing and less horror. I'm not normally into the supernatural horror books. Other than that, I noticed the author sometimes appears to make up words that don't exist, and I don't think she properly understands certain others. For example, she refers to certain creatures as "cryptids". Cryptids by definition are animals and creatures that haven't been proven by science. The creatures she affixes this label to in her book are not any known cryptids, and instead sound like fairy tale monsters. These factors combined are why I'm giving this book a lower rating. I don't think I'd recommend this book, or re-read it, but I know there are people out there who enjoy this sort of book that will be very enthusiastic about it. Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic Press for the advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review, and all views and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

A lush, dark horror-fantasy about eternal bonds, fate, and the darkness inside of us. This dual-point-of-view book is perfect for fans of beautiful, haunting prose. horror, and romance.

Wyatt Westlock has inherited her childhood farmhouse in Maine. She intends to burn it down, channeling her grief at a mysterious past incident into its conflagration, but her plans change when she finds Peter, her former best friend, strung up in change and abandoned. Peter is semi-immortal, and has died many ritualistic deaths on her family's farm, which serves as a barrier between the sinister magical realm and the one she's always known. The only way that Peter can be free of this vicious cycle is if he kills Wyatt, the last living Westlock. Dark magical beasts and creatures are breaking through the fraying wards. Wyatt's only hope to repair them is to work with Peter, but how can she trust him when he has promise to destroy her? When the past returns to haunt them both, they are forced to put aside their oaths of destruction if they hope to survive.

This is a fantastically well-written book. Give to patient YA readers who enjoy character-based stories and horror.

This was such a gut-wrenching and yet utterly enthralling experience. The prose was very beautiful with lots of memorable lines, and it served to create a creepy cottage-core atmosphere.

The three main characters, Wyatt, James, and Peter are all captivating characters with a complex history with one another. Each of them had suffered in different ways because of the cult and because of this their relationships are often strained and they are put at odds with one another despite their shared friendship in the past. I loved the way the novel navigated through these relationships and the conflicted feelings of the characters—I could understand why each of them felt and acted the way they did and put myself into their shoes. It was really heartwarming to see how drawn they were to each other despite the pains that they suffered

The pacing of the novel was perfect. I was never once bored, and I liked how the history of the characters was slowly uncovered and as we learned more about the time they all spent together in the farm and the bonds they formed with one another.

The plot I’d say was less strong, but this is mostly a character-driven novel so it didn’t really matter, and the characters were all distinctive and very fleshed out.

The writing was also very effective in conveying strong feelings like longing, nostalgia, grief, and moving on. Everything was really beautiful and heavy hitting.

Idk what else to say except that this book was great and I highly recommend it, especially to fans of horror/dark fantasy romance.

I wanted so badly to love this one. I read the premise and it sounded like something I would devour, so I quickly requested an arc. Maybe I went in with too high of expectations seeing all of the other 5 star reviews from early readers, but I just couldn't get into it. I was confused for the whole part of it that I read, and not in the good way where it's suspenseful and makes you want to keep reading and find out what happens. Rather it was a way that I just felt stupid. And honestly maybe I am because everybody else seems to be loving this! I hope that when it releases it finds its readers and grows a fanbase, because I know that its readers are out there. That's just not for me unfortunately.

Wyatt returns to her childhood home ready to raze it to the ground. She has never understood why she was sent away from everything and everyone she loved in the first place. As she ventures through the hallways, memories assail her of her childhood filled with two boys; her best friends. Wyatt stumbles into the darkness that she always sensed, but never could figure out.

So begins a book where the reader is drawn into the story knowing only as much as Wyatt about the things that are happening around her. It is like watching a car wreck or emergency surgery. The reader can't look away. Instead they are drawn further into this dark, bloody world where the rules are unknown and enemies are everywhere. The plot lags in parts, but the characters and they mystery of what actually is going on keeps enticing the reader to hold their breath until the end.

This was something unique to the books that I’ve read recently. There isn’t a lot of YA cosmic horror out there, and Kelly Andrew nailed it. This book is beautifully written with a magically developed landscape and tense relationships. I was fully immersed in this book.

What I Liked:
I loved that the spelling of Peter’s name is different based on who’s perspective we’re in. It’s such a clever way to reveal that there’s a difference in the information each character has.
I loved the emotional roller coaster that Wyatt is on. I found myself often forgetting that these are young people, until we get to these moments where they clash and bicker with each other in a ‘not quite developed’ way.

What I Didn’t Like:
There was one element that I wish was delved into a bit more. I won’t go into detail because it’s a huge spoiler, but I wish we had time to develop some feelings on it for just a little while longer.

This book has such VIBES wow. Summary—Wyatt returns to her childhood home intent on burning it down, but she finds one of her childhood best friends imprisoned in the basement. What follows is very eldritch and the culmination of years of her father’s cult ritually sacrificing this immortal boy over and over again. I love how the layers of this story peeled free one by one, unearthing such emotional depth. My favorite thing BY FAR is the writing. It’s so achingly beautiful—prime word choice, such imagery, I love it—and just an overall pleasure to read. Even if I wasn’t into the story, I would have loved the writing. And the story really pulled at the heartstrings. I loved the friendship between Wyatt and Peter and James, and how it was given just as much importance as the romance between Wyatt and Peter. I found myself wanting to understand the magic and worldbuilding a little more, just to grasp the rules of the magic system better, but I did get a sense of being right there with the characters who didn’t really have a good idea of what was going on haha. The amount of plants in this book, and such a plethora of descriptive plant names!! I love plant magic, and this book has that combined with death magic and a disgruntled goat, so I’d highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for sharing the ARC with me in exchange for my honest review!!

Omg, I don’t even know where to begin with this one. I knew almost nothing about the story prior to reading the ARC, all I knew was that Kelly wrote it so I had to read it. I fell in love with the author's writing when I picked up The Whispering Dark on a whim earlier this year. Kelly Andrew’s writing style is so so unique. She cultivates such vivid imagery and atmosphere and stylistically reminds me of Ava Reid or Alix E. Harrow’s writing style. I always feel like I’m right there with the characters and experiencing what they’re feeling. This book was no exception and such an immersive experience (I could really smell the rot, iykyk).

Now moving on to my favorite part, the characters! Again, Kelly is able to draw out tension like no other. The pining, the yearning, the angst, the secrets, I will never recover. Wyatt is such an easy character to root for. You really feel for her as she’s thrust into this world she just wants to move on from. And Peter, don’t even get me started. Kelly needs to pay for my therapy bills now because what did he ever do to deserve this. The development of their relationship is everything to me like childhood friends to enemies to lovers? Say less. I also enjoyed James' character arc and how everything wrapped up at the end.

The plot was also gripping and the way I was trying to figure everything out, I was stressed omg. The author does such an excellent job at giving you bits and pieces, but not revealing too much. I really enjoyed how everything was revealed (like Peter’s and Willow Heath's backstory). The ending had me screaming crying throwing up. I felt so gutted and it was such a visceral experience. You could really feel the strength of the bond and the history between these three characters. I would’ve liked to have seen some more of Peter’s backstory and I think there were some parts in the first half that felt a bit repetitive, but I still really enjoyed my reading experience.

4.25 - Will definitely keep an eye out for anything Kelly writes in the future because she has such a distinct voice! Your Blood, My Bones releases on April 2, 2024. Happy reading!!

I really enjoyed this urban fantasy/love story. It’s not my normal read, but it was super interesting from the very beginning. The author knocked it outta the park.

I’ll definitely read more from this author in the future!

This was my first Kelly Andrew book, and I LOVED it. From the moment Wyatt showed up at her childhood home with gasoline and a very clear intention, I was hooked. It was haunting in all the right ways, and I loved both the present happenings and the use of flashbacks to show her relationships with Peter and Jamie. Secrets and lies upon more secrets and lies are unfurled as Wyatt attempts to fight fate. I shivered, I cried, I laughed, cried some more, and have zero regrets. I need to read more Kelly Andrew....

Thank you so much to Kelly for sending me an early copy of this book! All my opinions are my own!

Where does someone begin to describe a masterpiece?? How do you begin to convey the breadth of emotion such a work makes you feel? How can a book have such eldritch horrors and yet touch the depths of your heart and soul?

Wyatt is immediately such a strong female character to absolutely root (hehe no pun intended) for and also someone whose mysterious past leaves you both curious and infuriated. It's like she's constantly coming into the world like a hurricane, and I feel like I can relate to Peter that way. She bursts in, turns your life upside down, and leaves you rather happier for it, even through the pain.

This is a book that's perfect in so many ways. Perfectly paced. Perfectly set in a creepy farmhouse in the middle of creepy woods with a creepy chapel. Perfectly cast with characters so infuriating you can't help but love them. Perfectly balanced with the real world and the mystical. Perfectly tied up at the end (even if I wanna scream like Wyatt now).

Please don't ask me to talk about the romance. I am unsure that I will ever recover. That's all I shall say.

If you're looking for a book to play with your mind, play with your fears, and leave your emotions unsure which way to swing, please pick this up. You will not regret it in the slightest.

Your Blood, My Bones is a striking urban fantasy in which Wyatt Westlock encounters an ancient force in the land of her family's old farmhouse. I thought this premise was unique, but it was a slow read for me. It took me a while to get in the groove of this story, but the ending paid off. I believe this book will be well received.

Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for this ARC!

“Dully, she wondered if this was what heartbreak felt like—looking into the eyes of someone she’d spent her whole life memorizing and finding nothing recognizable left over in their depths.”

Maaaannn! I tell you what! I was NOT expecting this story to be as captivating as it was. The writing is phenomenal and Kelly is able to evoke emotions from the depth of a person’s being. While I did see the trigger warning, they did not deter me from wanting this book. Every aspect of the story is masterfully crafted to fit into a complete tale. I will definitely be picking up some of this author’s other works!

Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic for this ARC in return for an honest review.

This book was surprisingly a rollercoaster in all of the best ways. I wouldn't categorize this as horror. It's more of a thriller, romance, or fantasy situation.

There is significant world-building and character introduction in the beginning. It does not feel arduous but is blended in nicely. The pacing of the book was slow at times. There are a lot of moving parts in this story. The reader is learning with the FMC. The MMC is knowledgeable but also deals with and processes his own issues.

The ending was great but does not explain why/ how the conclusion occurred. It leaves room for the author to write another book. I don't think an additional book is needed, but it could be beneficial if done correctly.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and recommend it to a friend. THank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I ended up having to DNF this. The rating is due to NetGalley not allowing you to leave a review without a rating.

The writing style was too flowery and hard to understand for me to find enjoyable. Maybe it’s not the right book for me.

A very self-contained love story that follows three characters who reunite under strange circumstances. Looking back on their childhood summers together, Wyatt finds things were stranger than she ever remembered.

I enjoyed the prose, Kelly Andrew did a wonderful job capturing the feeling of missing something you know you can never get back.

I felt at times that the arguments between Wyatt and Peter were repetitive to the point that they lost a little bit of their tension.

But overall I enjoyed the story immensely.

There’s something to be said when you consume a book in less than 24 hours, and I believe that word is phenomenal. I loved every single aspect of this book. Wyatt, Peter, and James will always hold a special place in my heart…the depths of their friendship was so heartwarming & it added such a personal and relatable touch to the story. While the ending was not what I wanted, it closed the story in such a beautiful way that had my eyes leaking uncontrollably. Thank you #netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book, I truly loved it!

I absolutely loved this. I found the story unique and thrilling. It was different than my normal type of reading but fun.

This book was not for me. I am not a fantasy lover if you like that you will like this book. But I could not connect with anything in this book. I also found myself not really caring. Overall just not for me.

The narrative weaves together themes of loyalty, love, and the supernatural, creating a hauntingly beautiful tale that keeps readers engaged until the very end.