Member Reviews
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.
ππ©ππ§ πππ©ππ£π: ββββ
ππ₯πππ πππ©ππ£π: πΆ
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 β 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.
π»πππππ π° πππππππ
ππππ: friendships, sweet romance, Slightly, the magic, the world-building, light horror vibes, second chances, multi-POV.
π’ πππ¨: horror themes, violence, gore, cults, death, death of a loved one, imprisonment, memtion of torture, trauma
βI received an ARC of this book from the author, Hachette Aus, and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own honest opinions.β
π³πππππ π·ππππ πππ
ππππππ ππππ π ππππππ πππ ππππ ππππππ ππ π ππππππ. π°πππππππππ ππ ππππ, ππππ ππππ ππ ππππ. π©ππ πππππππ πππ
ππππ ππππ πππππ ππ πππ
ππ ππ ππππβ πππππππ πππ ππ πππ πππππ
βπ πππ
, ππππππππ
ππ
ππ π ππππππ ππππππππ ππ πππ πππππ ππππππ
ππππ. π°π ππππ ππππ π ππππ
πππ, πππ
ππππ, ππππ ππππ ππππππππ ππππ, πππ πππ ππππππππ πππ-ππππππ.
π
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 fatherβs 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 promiseβ "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 wasnβt 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!
βLoving 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 β kissing him at the worldβs end, surrounded by a living monument to all their wasted time.β
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.
βHe didnβt want to tell her that most curses looked like gifts, at the start.β
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 β Wyatt Westlock, Pedyr βPeterβ Criafol, and James Campbell β 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 fatherβs secret society. Can Peter and James be trusted? And can Wyatt piece together the mystery unfolding before itβs too late?
Andrewβs 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 beginβ¦ Kellyβs writing drew my in from the beginning, I was hooked. I went through all the emotions with the one and now donβt 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. Itβs a blend of genres with romance, supernatural, horror, with some mystery and suspense.
Honestly Iβm still processing what happened by the ending definitely destroyed me π₯Ί
Please check the trigger warnings before reading β οΈ
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC through NetGalley. My review is my honest opinion on this book β¨
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!
Imagine inheriting your childhood home, only to find your best friend chained in the basement β turns out he is immortal and his only chance at freedom lies in your death. This unsettling premise sets the stage for Wyatt and Peter's story, a chilling exploration of sacrifice and twisted bonds.
This book captivated me. Its tragic romance, complex characters, and a haunting magic system created a truly immersive and suspenseful experience.
I really loved Kelly's story in In These Hallowed Halls, I didn't even realize till about half way throigh that it was the same author so obviously I like the way she writes.
Highly recommended if you crave:
Dark fantasy
Tragic romance π
Atmospheric storytelling
Thank you to @hachetteaus for making the ARC of 'Your Blood, My Bones' by Kelly Andrew available on @netgalley
Five years after her mother took her away from the estate of her now-dead father, Wyatt Westlock returns to the place where she grew up with her two best friends, Peter and Jamie, only to discover that Peter has been trapped in her home this entire time. Her discovery that he intends to kill her starts her on a path to unravelling the dark history of her family and the land upon which they've lived for generations, as well as coming to terms with a frightening power that's been growing inside her.
The first two-thirds of this book has an unsettlingly gothic feel to it, which sets a perfect backdrop for the dramatic tension that unfurls between its lead characters and the surrounding landscape. For as little as actually happens in this much of the book, it doesn't feel like it, as the tension continues to be ratcheted up and more information is doled out, piece by piece.
Then, trying to avoid spoilers as much as possible, there's a change of location that feels very much like a record scratch, which the book is ultimately able to recover from for the big finish, but which still felt like an unnecessary interlude. I understand its purpose, but oh how I wish some other method(s) had been used to achieve the same result. Preferably something that gave Wyatt a bit more agency in the story, where she otherwise seems to be something like a leaf caught up in the flood caused by the actions of other people, both friend and foe.
I also wish that the plot device of withholding information hadn't been leaned on so heavily. Especially when the revelation of that information often had fewer consequences than the hiding of it.
If this sounds like I disliked this book, that's actually very far from the truth. I wanted to give it five stars for the longest time, and even think that it would have only taken some minor changes to the plot to get me over the line. As it stands, I still strongly recommend reading it.m, and I'd love to be argued into giving it a perfect score. For now, though...
Rating: 3.5/5
Thank you NetGalley and Scholastic Press for this ARC!
At the very beginning I was prepared to give this book a 5 star. It had me captivated, spooked and curious to know more. The way that Kelly articulates her words is phenomenal , her internal vocabulary must be out of this world huge, however I think in this instance it may have been her demise as I found a lot of things to be unnecessarily descriptive.
Towards the end of part two and the beginning of part three I found it to be a little slow. We kind of just got presented this magic system, but no backstory into how it actually worked. I would've loved a more in depth background into that, rather than chapters and chapters of Wyatt and Peter arguing over the same thing and making up again.
The book is described as a Gothic Horror, but I'd say this is more a YA horror set in an eerie farm house.
All the cons aside, the story as a whole was tragically beautiful. I loved the romance between Wyatt and Peter, I loved the beast! His character creeped me out and all the little things that were happening that had no logical explanation such as the landline phone ringing.
This was well done, however I feel as though it could have been less focused on the back and fourth and more on the magic/world building.
3.5 stars from me!
3.75 stars
βWyatt didnβt doubt that monsters were real. She knew they were. She knew, too, that they didnβt lurk in forests, the way Peter seemed to think. They didnβt have fangs and fur, sharp teeth and crooked talons. They looked like a girl with summertime freckles and strawberry hair.β
ARC provided by NetGalley (all thoughts and opinions are my own)
Publishing date: 24/04/2024β¨Hachette
Thoughtsβ¦
This was a gorgeous YA fantasy that had an eerie atmosphere, gothic vibes and just the right mix of friends/enemies to lovers that I needed.
I am a huge mood reader, and recently Iβve been really reaching for gothic, creepy, and very atmospheric reads, and this really gave me all that and more. I loved our characters, their friendships and the way they interacted. It gave me a huge found family vibe. I loved Wyatt and learning what her magic is. Peter gave me all of the vibes I needed in a quiet and mysterious male lead, and I just loved how his character developed throughout the book. Donβt even get me started on my boy James. I am a sucker for a side character, and James just had me in a chokehold the entire time π€
I loved the plot of this story as well. I loved the idea of a reluctant working relationship between Wyatt and Peter, as they tried to stop the world from essentially ending. I thought Andrew did a great job of progressing the plot from one point to another, whilst giving both characters a good amount of growth and self-discovery. Iβm also a sucker for dual POV, so I loved getting to see into both of these characters heads throughout the book. For me (personally), the ending just broke me. I just sat on the couch for a while and went βhow dare you?β Iβm still mad about it, but frankly that marks some great storytelling.
Iβm excited to pick up The Whispering Dark sometime in the near future, and canβt wait to see what Kelly Andrew comes out with next (I have some thoughts on who Iβd want focused on- but thatβs just me π€)