Wow! If you want a book that gives the same creepy crawling feelings as ‘Gallant’ and ‘Mexican Gothic,’ then you’ve surely found your next read. Kelly Andrew truly outdid herself with the atmospheric writing in this novel, and many times I found myself having physical reactions to the scenes.

The setting was gorgeously written, and felt other-worldly while also not needing layers of world building. The characters were also very interesting and I enjoyed uncovering more about them as the story progressed.

What truly caused this book to lose some points with me was how many layers it seemed to have. Once I felt like I had a grasp of what was going on, another (seemingly unrelated) piece was thrown into the mix. I never felt connected to the story because of this, and it continued to make me feel like an “outsider” to the story. Juggling so many details, so many supporting characters who get 5 minutes of mention, so many flashbacks mid-scene all got really confusing.
Also, I understood that this was meant to have some sort of semblance of romance; however, it felt as thought it came out of nowhere. There were no details that suggested that Peter felt that way about Wyatt as a child, and then all of a sudden they’re kissing and proclaiming their love for each other…. when five minutes earlier he was planning to kill her? It just was too flip-floppy for me.

I really really enjoyed the last book I read by this author, The Whispering Dark, and this on was just as enchanting. And the ending had me crying like a baby. This story will, undeniably, leave a mark. In the best kind of way.

This book was a balm and I never saw it coming.

I haven't wept over a character in a very long time and I can't explain it. I'm also aware that maybe others might not get it when they read this book, certain twists are confusing, and the last 10% was a whirlwind that was hard to keep up with.
But the grief in this book is my grief. The rage and hurt is my rage and hurt.
I am Peter in ways that can't be put into words.

While the author's prose has always been immaculate, stunning with its metaphor and complex in the depth it's able to share, Andrew has really improved since The Whispering Dark in terms of plot and craft. I felt fully immersed in this claustrophobic world and I could quite literally feel the yearning and the loss of time between these characters. Andrew was able to create such complex characters with rich backgrounds and a unique dynamic between each other—the likes that I haven't read since The Raven Boys. And it's the characters that make up this story, their hurt, grief, desire, love, and hope—it's all so clear and relatable in this book. Everything is beautifully explored in a gothic horror setting with sensitivity and depth and I truly believe everyone should read this book.

Above all, however, this book is a love story. New love and its fragility, love between friends that goes beyond distance and time, between children and their parents, between two strangers who become friends and then enemies but beneath it all something more as they cling onto each other with desperation and need.

All this to say, read this book. Read it, read it.

Thank you to Net Galley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was an absolute gem! It had so many vibes that I was not expecting at all, and I absolutely loved this.

It is a gothic enemies to lovers story that follows Wyatt as she goes back to her childhood farm after the death of her father, with the sole purpose of burning the place to the ground. Things aren’t quiet as they seem; however, when she finds Peter, her childhood best friend, strung up in the basement.

The first 30 pages of this book had me hooked, and it was easy to read and exciting the whole way through (especially with that heart wrenching ending). The pacing of the book was done very well, and the entire story flowed smoothly. It had me gasping, crying, and needing more of these characters. It is definitely character driven, with a dual POV between Peter and Wyatt which I absolutely loved. The romantic relationship in this story developed like fine wine, and Andrew did an amazing job of developing her characters by slowly revealing their backstories and what happened in the past to drive them apart. Further, this book is written so well, and the descriptions that Andrew used helped create an atmosphere that set a creepy tone for the rest of the book.

The only thing I wish I got to see more of was a “backstory” or explanation of the magic system and how Wyatt’s family learned about it, as well as the whole plot involving the cult; I feel like these two were a little confusing and Andrew could have spent a bit more time explaining them.

After taking weeks to finish the whispering dark, I flew through this one in 7 hours (give or take). I liked whispering dark a lot and I was excited to see some familiar faces in this book. However this one far exceeded my expectations and surpassed my feelings about the first book.

Not quite a sequel, more a different story in the same universe. This one was more emotional and the stakes felt higher. I especially loved the gothic themes/imagery.

Where the whispering dark left me with a smile of my face this one left me with a punch in the gut and tears falling down my face.

I can give no greater compliment to an author and can experience nothing better while reading, than just pure unfiltered emotions.

Do I even need to say this was 5 stars? Okay. It was 5 stars.

Oops, edited to say thank you to net galley for the arc 😅

Your Blood, My Bones, was devastating. I loved it so much.

Between the lush estate (with its own chapel and graveyard) and the decay of Wyatt's untapped powers and the visual of the piano rotting away covered with moss and fungi, this book was beautiful. Kelly really has a gift for description. But more than that the relationships between the trio of Wyatt, Pedyr and James was alluring - I freaking loved Pedyr. "She thought of him out in the henyard, naming all the chickens. The way the goat followed him from room to room, chewing at his sleeves. The way he'd sharpened himself into something cruel, to hide the fact that all he wanted was someplace soft to land." I loved that his motivation had always been to go home, and how blind he was to what the word home really meant to him. Wyatt needed to go on this terrifying journey in order to move forward. James definitely needed the journey he went on, but you'll have to read it to know why. The general feeling throughout the book was that all three of them were yearning for the halcyon days, and yet at the time they had not realised how good they had it. They were all rather sad and all I wanted was to just give them all hugs.

Of course I loved Mackenzie, Lane and Colton popping up - but was glad to see that they really were background characters. They popped up only to assist, not to take over. It was good to have a second location they could run away to, and that helped ease the pressure at a point in the book where you really just wanted them to run away! Even if you knew, they were going to return. Could they have stayed away? No.

Every twist was expertly handled, and I spent so much time during this book shouting "WHAT?" - it was brilliant. This trio will stay with you for a longtime.

Beautiful writing, devastating characters, cunningly woven together.

I really liked this book beautifully written, paced very well and kept me thoroughly invested throughout the entire time. I. was very excited to read this and so glad I did I will definitely be getting this as a physical copy once it comes out

Wyatt's father is dead and she intended to burn down the farmhouse she's inherited. That is until she finds her childhood friend, Peter, inside strung up and left for dead.

Peter is semi immortal, unbeknownst to Wyatt, and has suffered several ritualistic deaths at the hands of Wyatt's ancestors. He now has a chance to escape this brutal cycle: he just needs to end the Westlock line and kill Wyatt

" He didn't want to tell her that most curses looked like gifts, at the start."

I really appreciated the small nods and including some characters from The Whispering Dark. This book drew me into its world of magic, eldritch beasts in the dark and emotions at a fever pitch best known to those in their late teens. I wanted to savor it, but couldn't put it down.

Thank you to Scholastic for an ARC on NetGalley.

This was such a strange book. But I think I liked it. It's very much got thriller vibes with a fantasy twist to it. I did find the back and forth on Peter's lies/history to be pretty frustrating at times. But it was still a pretty good and unique read.

3.5 stars

The younger me would have been absolutely engrossed by Your Blood, My Bones, and I love how this story acted as a small reminder as to why I fell in love with reading. But while it felt nostalgic, it also felt new. The dynamic between the three main characters was interesting, and Andrew did a great job fleshing out their backstories. At its core, this was a story of friendship and the true meaning of home. Peter won my heart by the end of the book, making the ending all the more bittersweet. My only complaint is that I wished the magical realism expanded upon more since it was what I was most excited about. There were a few slow parts, and I think building a deeper intricate magic system would have made the story more captivating.

Thank you, NetGalley and Scholastic Press, for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a hauntingly beautiful story. I loved each of the three MCs and following the tragic tale of how they grew up together on Wyatt’s family farm. Little did Wyatt know, the boy she’s been in love with since she was a little girl is actually an immortal who has been ritually sacrificed by her family over and over for hundreds of years.

I really loved the dark atmosphere, supernatural creatures, and the unique magic system. The relationships were easily the best part though, you could really feel how deep the connections went. The romance was sweet yet heartbreaking and I really loved Peter. I think the only thing I wish is that a couple of the backstories were expanded upon a bit more. I would recommend this if you like dark romantic fantasies!

Thank you to Scholastic for the ARC!

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Magical realism is a hard one to pull off but this one came pretty close. Dark, atmospheric - it was definitely easy to fall into this story. Folktale vibes, told from multiple POV of the 3 friends. Themes of friendship, betrayal, love.

For the most part I found this one to be hauntingly brilliant with my only criticisms that the side characters from the “real world” all fell a bit flat and static to me. Didn’t feel invested in them at all and they honestly didn’t feel necessary to move the plot along at all. As I said before, magical realism is a hard sell and I feel like this would have felt a bit less disjointed if it took place in an earlier time setting than modern day.

But overall I would recommend, something nostalgic about it that reminds me of hot summer days as a kid.

Where to even begin?! The unique premise that’s horror meets suspense meets romance? Or perhaps the immersive world building with environments so integral to the story they feel like characters themselves—speaking of characters…never have I fallen and been broken by a cast of characters more than these. Then there’s the line level prose that’s so lyrical. So poignant, so beautifully crafted you almost wonder how they could be Andrew’s sophomore effort and yet it is. This is the type of book that leaves you with the worst and at the same time, BEST book hangover. My only complaint is I can’t go back in time and experience it again. So excited for this one to hit the shelves so I can bully everyone into reading it

MY GOD. I finished this book several days ago but have been sitting on it thinking about how I was going to review it because I am still internally screaming inside.

The writing in this book was so so good. I bawled my eyes out over this book. I will be sending my therapy bills to Kelly Andrew. Some lines in particular had me literally holding my breath subconsciously or gave me that feeling where my stomach felt like it was going to fall out of my body. I know this sounds horrific, but I mean this in a good way. I was waaaaaay overdue for a good, good cry and this book did the job.

If you are someone who likes bawling your eyes out, Eldritch horror, being traumatized, crying for hours on end, then this is the book for you. This book won't be for everyone, but this book was written for me. I know we are still in the first month of 2024, but I have a feeling that this will be in my top 5 books of the year already.

This book was.....a lot. But the a lot was amazing.

Kelly Andrew truly has a gift for writing and destroying readers' souls. I will ABSOLUTELY be purchasing a hard copy version of this the second it is available for purchase, and I will be recommending it to my friends and family who I know will be able to handle it and enjoy this little devil of a book.

EASY 5/5 stars. Truly beautiful, horrific and amazing. Did I mention traumatizing?

I still don't forgive you for breaking my heart, Kelly, but you are now an auto-buy author for me. I don't know what this says about me.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to mentally get my shit rocked with this book. Loved loved loved!

Kelly Andrew, the woman that you are. This book ripped my soul to pieces and I don’t think I’ll ever recover from this one. I read A Whispering Dark and I enjoyed it, but this book has to be her best work. Everything was done perfectly and more.

I never thought I was a fan of supernatural horror, but this book made me realize I kind of love it? Her prose is absolutely breathtaking, and I simply couldn’t stop reading. I needed to know what happened next, and I fell into the depths this book had to offer. She does creepy right and knows how to encapsulate her audience with each word she put on the page. I’m convinced that I need to read more supernatural horror now.

My love for Wyatt, Pedyr, and James is never ending. Watching their relationship blossom in this book was such a delight, and they were written so beautifully. I loved how interwoven their relationship was, and how easy it was to love these characters. They were well fleshed out and so complex that they all felt so real to me. And the Lane and Colton appearance!! I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy their part in this story.

That ending? I had to take a moment because I couldn’t stop crying. It was utterly tragic yet so beautiful at the same time? I don’t know how Kelly does it, but she knows how to pull heart strings.

It has suspense, horror, romance, and so much more and I will be screaming from the rooftops for everyone to read this book! This just solidified my love for Kelly Andrew and the stories she is able to weave together. Anything she writes, I will read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Your Blood, My bones by Kelly Andrew. Mystery, horror, cult?.

I DNFed this book. I kept putting it down and then just never went back to it. Might try it again once it’s released.

Thank you, NetGalley and Scholastic for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 Stars

Wyatt Westlock wants to destroy the farmhouse she inherited but discovers her childhood friend Peter chained up in the basement. Peter, semi-immortal, is bound to the farm and needs to end the Westlock line to break free. As dark forces gather, Wyatt must work with Peter, who possesses knowledge of her volatile magic, to repair the protective spells. However, trusting someone who has vowed to kill her is a challenge. When unexpected events from the past resurface, they must rely on each other to survive.

Oh, this was a good book. I was hooked from the start and didn't want to put it down. Dark fantasy, magic, suspense, romance, drama, tension, horror...it's got a bit of everything that I enjoy. It was a fast read for me. The book is written in multi-POV so the audience knows more than the characters which just adds to the tense moments. It is so well written. You are immersed in the book and it’s hard to come up for air.

I enjoyed the relationship between Wyatt, Peter, and James. I liked how the flashbacks were interwoven in the chapters to fill us in on the history of the three. However, sometimes this could get confusing so I think a different in font style would be easier to read.

The ending…oh, the ending. I loved it. The bittersweet resolution was absolutely perfect. I can’t quite give it 5 stars but it’s pretty close. I felt the final climax was slightly rushed which is why it’s knocked half a star off my rating. I still loved it and it has me interested in Andrew’s other works.

Thank you, NetGalley and Scholastic Press for the ARC.

Oh how I love YA horror. I don't know if that's what Kelly or the publisher would call it, but I'd call it horror, and I loved it. I was sweet and nasty and gentle and cutting and hopeful and incessantly hopeless. The multitudes that this book holds, the discussions on breaking the cycle but the gut-wrenching pain that comes from letting go of the you that you were and the people you love in the process... it did break me a little bit. But I'm gonna come up better on the other side. (And hopefully without a demon)

I’m honestly not sure how to begin this review. This is unlike any book that I’ve read before. The prose is beautifully crafted and transported me into a serine yet terrifying environment. There were times that I felt calm but others where my heart was pounding. There is romance, thriller, and supernatural elements so elegantly entwined that it’s hard to fit this book into one single genre.

The ending was absolutely well-down, and I know I won’t stop thinking about it for months, possibly even years. My lasting impression of this book? Sometimes, love is truly worth dying for.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Andrew’s writing has honestly become one of my favorites. It’s so easy to read and super engaging, yet their characters are incredibly complex. I love how they crafted such an intriguing world of their own. Love it!