This book feels like cold, rainy nights, when you stare out the window into the darkness--half hoping some thing is out there, staring back, half hoping it won't notice you.
Terrifying, but exciting.
There is a deep, agonising loneliness in YBMB that had me reading, hoping, for the best for this trio, despite their odds. I cannot articulate my feelings towards Kelly's vibrant, hungry descriptions, other than that I need more.
If you like books that make you worry about the dark that bleeds along the edges of shadows at night, this book is for you.

This was not what I expected. It was a very atmospheric book which slowly filled me with dread. It was quite dark but a very interesting story. I would love to read more by this author!!!!

Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew is a beautifully written dark fantasy that I thoroughly enjoyed. The atmosphere was absolutely captivating, with the eerie magic and complex relationships between the characters keeping me hooked from start to finish. The world-building, though a bit mysterious at times, added to the story’s haunting vibe, leaving me intrigued and wanting to uncover more.

Wyatt, Pedyr, and James were fascinating characters, each with their own flaws and depth. I loved how their relationships evolved, especially the slow-burn dynamic that kept me guessing. The romance, while subtle, added an emotional layer to the story that I really appreciated. The tension and complexities between the trio felt real and made for a gripping read.

While I do wish there had been a bit more explanation around the origins of the magic and creatures, I still found the story to be immersive and emotionally powerful. If you love atmospheric, character-driven dark fantasy with a touch of eerie magic, I highly recommend this book. It’s a haunting and memorable read that I’m glad I picked up.

When Wyatt Westlock returns to her family farm, she's determined to burn it to the ground. But she never expected to find Peter, her childhood buddy, chained up in the basement. This shocking revelation kicks off a haunting trip down memory lane, bringing back recollections of sunny summers and childhood dreams. At the same time, creepy creatures are pouring out of the forest, eager to break through the wards and invade the world.

Kelly Andrew really nails the vibe of gothic fantasy in this book. Her writing is beautifully eerie, even when describing things that give you chills. I was surprised by how engaging yet unsettling this story was. The setting is incredibly well done, and the feeling of reconnecting with childhood friends—only to discover everything has changed—hits you hard.

The only reason I didn't give this a five stars was because the stakes could have been higher. While they're definitely there, I didn't feel them ramping up as much as I'd hoped by the midpoint. Wyatt kept facing challenges similar to earlier ones, with just a slight increase in danger as the wards started to fail. However, Andrew's writing kept me hooked, and the strong character connections made up for it when the external conflicts began to lose momentum.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and couldn't stop reading it. If you liked Starling House, you will enjoy this one.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: 🌶️ Rated PG - 1-2 Kissing only scenes
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦:
-Animal death (not pets)
-Blood
-Allusions to violence/abuse
-Poisoning
-Cults
-Bones/skeletons
-Allusions to sexual assault
-Paranormal Activity
-Elements of body horror
-Mild gore
-Insects / Spiders
-Mild depictions of torture

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley for sharing this novels copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

"He'd never needed to go home. Home had been right here in front of him."

At the heart of this novel is a character driven written magic of novel, belonging and the family you make for yourselves. This was eerily romantic and wonderfully crafted. The author was able to craft beautiful if not scary and haunting visuals and underneath it all a love that had endured and spanned centuries.

If you are a fan of mystery, spooky romance fantasy, brimming with magic then this novel is for you.
The characters were the highlight of this novel.

I wish the magic system had been explained in more detail as i found myself questioning a magic plot point that happens at the end of the novel - why was this allowed to happen due to magic and not the other. It would have been better fleshed out if the magic system had been explored more. BUT this may have just been because of the ending and my denial - we'll never know.

An enjoyable read, even if we ignore the DEVASTATION I FELT AND WE IGNORE THAT, FRIENDS. For me the ending doesn't exist - stay delulu.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I ended up reading the published copy as I received it in a special edition box and I adored this book! A perfect blend of horror and gothic told through a YA lense - it was still creepy while not being too scary for readers who tend to scare easily. The story kept me on my toes and I was never fully confident that everyone would make it out at the end - a refreshing change from the YA norm of being predictable for seasoned readers. I would highly recommend this for both YA and adult readers who enjoy romantasy (but minimal spice), horror, and gothic tales.

PLEASE NOTE that this is apparently connected to the authors previous work - The Whispering Dark - and that characters from that text appear in this one. I did not know this before reading and wish I had so that I could read them in the correct order.

𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 🌶

This was a really interesting read!

I thoroughly enjoyed the creepy gothic horror-like vibes, and how this was an urban fantasy, with portal mentions, and dark beasties galore.

Personally, I'm not really a fan of tragic romances, but didn't realise this book was one going into it, and I feel that it's not really a fantasy romance (due to that), so the 4 star rating reflects these reasons.

I loved the world-building — it was vividly easy to imagine! The magic was intruiging, with what I'd call a soft- or hybrid- magic system, and it fit the story perfectly.

I felt quite a bit for the characters, especially towards the end of the book, but actually got the most attached to Slightly, the cat, and I even cried for her.

While the ending wasn't particularly my favourite (due to the no HEA), I did think the book was wrapped up well, and it was very heartfelt.

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑰 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕: friendships, sweet romance, Slightly, the magic, the world-building, light horror vibes, second chances, multi-POV.


💢 𝙏𝙒𝙨: horror themes, violence, gore, cults, death, death of a loved one, imprisonment, memtion of torture, trauma


☆I received an ARC of this book from the author, Hachette Aus, and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own honest opinions.☆

𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒔𝒆. 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔— 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅’𝒔 𝒆𝒏𝒅, 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆. 𝑰𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒃𝒚𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕, 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆, 𝒔𝒆𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒇𝒇-𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓.

😈

Having read Kelly's debut, THE WHISPERING DARK at the end of 2022 and being in awe of the world she had created, I knew I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read the next in this connected series.

MY BONES, YOUR BLOOD is an intensely dark and vividly immersive YA gothic fantasy with curses, paranormal entities, minor horror, and a slow-burn childhood friends-to-lovers romance at its core.

We first met Wyatt in TWD as a supporting character, now she has returned to her childhood estate following the death of her father to burn it to the ground. When Wyatt finds Peter, her first love chained up in the basement, all the dark secrets of her family's history start to unravel and the truth about Peter's existence won't be the only immortal being she will have to face to get out alive.

Something I remember being a little off balance within Kelly's first book was the (overuse?) of metaphors. I didn't feel that with this one at all. In fact, I was so drawn in and encapsulated by the story, that I was a little emotional when it ended. There are plenty of creepy moments to give you the tingles and Kelly's beautiful prose is perfect for book lovers who love to annotate.

If you read THE WHISPERING DARK, you'll also be happy to know that Lane and her "sleep paralysis demon boyfriend" Colton - and Mackenzie make an appearance too.

Thank you to the team at Hachette and Netgalley for allowing me to read an early copy of this gem.

I was very excited to get this ARC from netgalley as it was a special edition book i was getting in a book box , let me start by saying i love the cover.

I was hooked reading this book and couldn't stop until i finished it . ( get your tissues)
would recommend this book to another who likes Gothic Ya romances .

I would love to look at other books by Kelly as i really enjoyed this one

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC. All thoughts are my own.

If I was going to give this book a different title, it would certainly be American Gothic. This was such a fun, creepy little book, with just the right amount of heartbreak and magic. I thoroughly enjoyed it, much more than I expected to. FMC Wyatt is headstrong and has one foot stuck in the past. MMC Peter has lived hundreds of lives and yet he's the oldest he's ever been. This was a book that straddles multiple genres - magical realism, thriller, horror. The vibes are honestly immaculate. If you enjoyed Andrew's first book The Whispering Dark, keep an eye out for some familiar faces too.

The world was rich in creepy imagery and at multiple points caused shudders at how invested I got in envisioning this book's world environment. This was a cursed forest done right, and the hints of multiple genres kept this from being just a horror tale. The homestead of Wyatt's farm undertakes drastic and magical transformations throughout the book that subtly keeps the dark decay of the situation, both physically and emotionally tracking along nicely, and I was impressed by how the house worked well to represent the strength and fragility of the characters' hope and destruction. The ending, whilst tragic, had the right level of culmination to all the previous actions, and I was satisfied enough with how this wrapped up.

I enjoyed this read, and am glad that Kelly Andrew has written another book in such a style, a great improvement on the last one I read from them, so much so that I hope to read more of their work in the furture.

Achingly beautiful dark fantasy with a heartbreaking romance!

This was a gorgeous read from start to finish. The prose is so lush, the imagery so vivid, the plot so tragic that I spent my reading experience stressed to the limit while also admiring the immaculate vibes. It read like a fucked up 'Tuck Everlasting' in the best possible way!

This is horror, this is dark romance, this is looking back on the halcyon summers of your youth but Uh Oh, something is Desperately Wrong Here. It's those childhood friendships forged in iron, revisited and pushed to breaking point. It's blood cults, witches, and eldritch monsters lurking in the shadows.

I can't recommend this enough!

"Your Blood, My Bones" dives into the gothic horror realm, following Wyatt Westlock as she returns to her ancestral home after her father’s death. The discovery of her childhood friend, Peter, chained in the basement sets the tone for a chilling narrative. As Wyatt uncovers unsettling truths about her family's past and Peter's semi-immortal curse, the story weaves a tapestry of deceit and destiny.

"The book 'Your Blood, My Bones' really drew me in with its promise— "A seductively twisted romance about loyalty, fate, the lengths we go to hide the darkest parts of ourselves . . . and the people who love those parts most of all.." And while it delivers on atmosphere, nailing those moody, gothic vibes, it didn't completely hit the mark for me elsewhere.

The lack of a well-defined magic system left much to be desired, with the rules of this dark universe feeling underexplored and vague. However, the atmosphere? Spot on. The gothic elements? Absolutely my cup of tea. But something about the way the story unfolds just stops it short of being a book I'd love. I really wanted to connect more with Wyatt and Peter, feel their fears and root for their fates, but I just wasn’t there with them.

I was lucky enough to get a copy of this arc via Netgalley and Hachette Australia; in return for a review. Although I was given this opportunity all thoughts are the my opinion and what I feel is a truthful rating for me. Please remember not everyone's tastes are the same and I may like something you might not and vice versa. I will try to keep spoilers free best of my ability. Again thank you for this arc and thank you to the author for imagining this.

"He could have told her she was dead wrong -- that he'd studied her for so long, for so many years, that he knew her like a sailor knew the sea. That he felt the shifts in her moods the way a lightkeeper's knees ached before a storm."

Your Blood, My Bones, to me was devastatingly beautiful. It hit all the right notes for me, to really leave me thinking. Because of this before we make it to the begining we will start at the end... The ending was haunting, sad, beautiful and poetic; it also had me crying while at work( I had my e-reader read it to me, Kelly Andrew, you owe my therapist some money.) The ending had me feeling all sorts of ways. It shattered me. I was upset. I was horribly sad. I was happy, I had hope and that was dashed by Andrew but the beautiful way my dreams went down in flames, has me forgiving her for making characters, two really that I just connected to on so many levels! I saw a younger version of myself in Wyatt and Pedyr, I guess a hint of James thrown in. To have a connection and feel as you read the emotions and be so immersed into the world Andrew paints with each word, every syllable was something I don't always experience in books. She nailed it for me. Andrew, said in her acknowledgements that she felt as if she were Wendy Darling as a child and she had a band of Neverlanders (Honestly same, I think thats why I connected so much with this, it felt just like how she described she wanted it to be.) This was already on my BOLO list for picking up but now I have read it, it needs to join my little home library!

“Loving Peter had always felt a little bit like poking at a bruise. Impossible to stop, even when it hurt. But nothing had ever hurt quite as badly as this — kissing him at the world’s end, surrounded by a living monument to all their wasted time.”

My Blood, Your Bones is a YA gothic horror modern fantasy with a splash of romance. To me and made sort of true-ish in the acknowledgements this is sort of a Peter Pan like modern remagining. Think witchy magic, folklore monsters, immortals with a very spooky and haunting aesthetic with a pinch of cottagecore as the pixie dust. I would totally watch a movie or TV show based on this book by the way, but let's dive back into the review shall we?

"Your family whittled him away bit by bit, until he became sharp and unfeeling as a weapon."

The book follows two primary characters, and one secondary. Wyatt, Peter (Pedyr) and James (Jamie). The book is MPOV with chapters at the beginning being Wyatt and Peter only, towards the middle/end chapters from Jamie's POV are added.

Wyatt, our MFC is part of the key to a secret, her family has kept hidden. Upon the death of her father, she is drawn back to the place she once called home, Willow Heath. This beautiful farmhouse, on acreage that bordered the woods is the setting for this tragic tale of woe. Coming back brings a flood of memories back, of a young Wyatt running about the woods and fields two little shadows her best friends, James and Peter. One whom her mother seems to not like or be afraid of yet, she cares for him like a part of her lives him, Christmas and Birthday gifts and so on, up until she drags Wyatt from the house kicking and screaming and moves her to another place permanently and she never sees her shadows again really. While going through the house deep in thought she is drawn to the basement, where she finds bound by chains, our MMC Peter.

“He didn’t want to tell her that most curses looked like gifts, at the start.”

Peter, isn't like all the other boys, normal boys, you see Peter in all his lifetimes had never grown up until now. Wyatt, isn't even sure of where he came from, just has known him as one of her best friends, an orphan boy her father has looked after. Peter holds a secret and it is linked to the one Wyatt's family holds. She is the key to it all and only she can change the past, right the future and help unlock the chains that bind Peter.

The character development between these two is impactful and fulfilling although I wish the ending was a bit less bitter-sweet. It is definitely a sorrowful happy ending.

Lastly is James, he wasn't really fully around until about part way towards the end. A lot of flashback scenes with him. I wasn't connected to him as much as our main characters. He isn't from the area Willow Heath is in, he is from across the pond, the UK. His father drags him to the states, to where Willow Heath is located, Summer after Summer. For reasons I shall not spoil. Though I do think what happened for him was very sad and added to all the tragic things in this book.

Overall I truly enjoyed this haunting tale. If you like horror, supernatural, remaginings or retellings this one is definitely for you. I definitely am picking up a physical copy to add to my shelf. It was a big 5 star read from me. I have The Whispering Dark on my shelf and has been on my TBR I definitely need to give it a read!

This book was so unexpectedly spooky, I got the chills within just the first few chapters of reading.
I really loved the storyline and the unique plot it had! It gripped my attention and this was my first time reading a gothic YA/horror-esque book.
The characters were all really complex as well and the prose was wonderful. My only gripe is that Wyatt could have been fleshed out more and shown to the reader rather than simply being told that she was this powerful being.

I really wanted to love this story. It sounded amazing but the execution didn't do it for me.

Your Blood, My Bones is a paranormal/gothic romantasy which follows the story of Wyatt Westlock who has recently inherited her families farm much to her dismay. But during her final walkthrough of her childhood home she finds her childhood friend, Peter in her basement, strung up in chains and left for dead. Peter has a secret unbeknownst to Wyatt, he has suffered hundreds of deaths at the hands of the Westlock family as he is semi-immortal. The only way to break him free from his curse and return him to his family is to kill the last of the Westlock line, he has to kill Wyatt.

Like many reviewers, I really wanted to love this. The plot sounded really interesting and had a strong beginning but it quickly fell apart and felt like it wasn't amounting to anything. The ending was also very confusing and rushed. I also really liked the atmosphere this book gave but again it didn't really go anywhere. I'm also very confused why this is branded as a romance? These two characters had zero chemistry or tension.

This can also be said about the characters. I really liked Wyatt and Peter in the beginning and felt that they were going to be solid, well described characters. However, they quickly fell apart and ended up very two-dimensional. Another thing that really annoyed me that another reviewer also pointed out is that Wyatt is meant to be the most powerful person in the world but that's literally all that's mentioned. It isn't expanded on or explained well. We're just told, "this is Wyatt, she's powerful," and that's literally it. No explanation of why or what she can do, just yeah she's powerful.

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Aus and NZ for sending me a copy of this one to review. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one as much as I wanted to but I hope others will enjoy this one more than me.

- Gothic
- Dark, haunting, magical, tragic

"Your Blood, My Bones" by Kelly Andrew is an absolute gem of a novel, seamlessly blending elements of mystery, romance, and fantasy. Andrew's writing effortlessly draws readers into a vividly imagined world where the boundaries between reality and magic blur. The characters are beautifully crafted, each with their own depth and complexity, making it impossible not to become emotionally invested in their journey. The intricate plot keeps you guessing until the very end, and the lyrical prose captivates from start to finish. Andrew has created a truly enchanting tale that will linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the final page. If you're looking for a mesmerizing read that will sweep you away to another realm, "Your Blood, My Bones" is an absolute must-read.

4 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC to review. All thoughts are my own.

The American Gothic vibes of this story were spot on. The balance of spooky vibes, magic, and tragedy were all executed so well that I was a little lost when I finished the book. I adored the vibes of Andrew's debut novel but felt it lacked in execution at points, so I was pleasantly surprised by how fleshed out Peter and Wyatt felt as characters. Their personalities and actions suited this dark world well, and I enjoyed small details blossoming once more as they reconnected over their decades-long cohabitation and obsessive nature with each other. I also found the side characters - both new faces and familiar to further the twisting intrigue the deeper I got into the cursed farm and the centuries-old boy connected to it. The creepiness of the villains elevated the read, and I found myself in equal parts understanding their beliefs and wishing for their demise.

This isn't my usual style of book to pick up, but I felt rewarded by the neverending twists and horror-appropriate plot devices. The world was rich in creepy imagery and at multiple points caused shudders at how invested I got in envisioning this book's world environment. This was a cursed forest done right, and the hints of multiple genres kept this from being just a horror tale. The homestead of Wyatt's farm undertakes drastic and magical transformations throughout the book that subtly keeps the dark decay of the situation, both physically and emotionally tracking along nicely, and I was impressed by how the house worked well to represent the strength and fragility of the characters' hope and destruction. The ending, whilst tragic, had the right level of culmination to all the previous actions, and I was satisfied enough with how this wrapped up.

I'm convinced that Kelly Andrew has found her niche of creepy fantasy with strong horror vibes here and hope to read more like this from this author in the future.

Your Blood, My Bones is a stunning addition to gothic/horror YA literature selections. Written by Kelly Andrew, author of The Whispering Dark, her new novel follows the lives of three people – Wyatt Westlock, Pedyr “Peter” Criafol, and James Campbell – as well as the estate of Willow Heath. Wyatt, heir to the estate, has the responsibility of care thrust into her hands when her father mysteriously falls ill and passes away. Armed with twisted memories and conflicted feelings, Wyatt sets off to Willow Heath with one thing on her mind: burning it all down. However, her plans are thwarted when she finds Peter strung up in chains in the basement. Confronted by old memories and cryptic comments from James and the weird, cloaked men on the estate border, Wyatt needs to search through their early lives at Willow Heath and the unnerving nature of her father’s secret society. Can Peter and James be trusted? And can Wyatt piece together the mystery unfolding before it’s too late?

Andrew’s prose is magnificent, setting the perfect pace for the thrilling events that occur. As much as this was a gothic YA, the mystery and magic involved evolve the story into a psychological thriller, making you wonder whether you can trust what is right in front of your eyes. A gripping page turner, perfect for fans of magical gothic horror.

Wow, where to begin… Kelly’s writing drew my in from the beginning, I was hooked. I went through all the emotions with the one and now don’t know what to do with myself! At times I just wanted the story to move faster, but I am an impatient person!

This was a heartbreakingly beautiful story following Wyatt as she discovers her dark family history that involves her childhood friends Peter and James. It’s a blend of genres with romance, supernatural, horror, with some mystery and suspense.

Honestly I’m still processing what happened by the ending definitely destroyed me 🥺

Please check the trigger warnings before reading ⚠️

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC through NetGalley. My review is my honest opinion on this book ✨

Your Blood, My Bones was such an addictive read. I didn't want to put it down. It draws you in right from the very start and keeps you page-turning as you absolutely need to know what happens next.
It is lyrical and beautifully written. The story is atmospheric and haunting, and I loved the slow burn romance. I wanted to be in these pages. I wanted to be with these people, and I can not wait to read more by Kelly Andrew.

Many thanks to Hachette AU/NZ and netgalley for letting me read an early copy of this. I absolutely need to physical copy for my shelf!