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bxtskr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mellabella's review
3.0
This isn't what I thought it would be. I was expecting a ghost filled horror novel.
Instead it's a book about family secrets and, grief with a side of haunting.
Shady, and her siblings (Jesse and Honey) live with her mom and stepdad Jim in a trailer.
Shady and Jesse are teens. The father they shared passed away. Jim is Honey's dad.
Set in the South, this is very well written and descriptive. Shady is bi. There is somewhat of a love triangle between her, her friend Sarah (who she'd like to be more than friends with) and cowboy Cedar. Quite honestly, there would be no triangle. Sarah doesn't seem like a great person for most of the book while Cedar is written as almost too good to be true.
But I'll make allowances since they're just teens.
Shady has been haunted by two beings for years. When her brother is arrested for Jims murder. She has to find her dads fiddle (that brings out ghosts) and figure out who really did it.
3.5 stars for the lyrical imagery and mystery.
Instead it's a book about family secrets and, grief with a side of haunting.
Shady, and her siblings (Jesse and Honey) live with her mom and stepdad Jim in a trailer.
Shady and Jesse are teens. The father they shared passed away. Jim is Honey's dad.
Set in the South, this is very well written and descriptive. Shady is bi. There is somewhat of a love triangle between her, her friend Sarah (who she'd like to be more than friends with) and cowboy Cedar. Quite honestly, there would be no triangle. Sarah doesn't seem like a great person for most of the book while Cedar is written as almost too good to be true.
But I'll make allowances since they're just teens.
Shady has been haunted by two beings for years. When her brother is arrested for Jims murder. She has to find her dads fiddle (that brings out ghosts) and figure out who really did it.
3.5 stars for the lyrical imagery and mystery.
melsuke's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
tonyriver's review
5.0
I loved this book. Great story with complex plot lines and an interesting just a bit different world. Shady has a constant and losing battle with poverty, avoiding death and protecting her family. Great use of music that draws ghosts to her and enables them to communicate from death.
Recomended.
Recomended.
per_fictionist's review
5.0
First of all “cue the music” for that unquestionably gorgeous and aesthetically creepy cover, please. I don’t think I’ve ever fallen so hard for a cover as much as I did for “GHOST WOOD SONG” and I almost immediately went on Goodreads to look for it’s synopsis and I think deep in my heart I knew that it’d be the kind of book I usually go for. AND TO MY ABSOLUTE SURPRISE IT WAS. < BEAUTIFUL CREATURES MEET WILDER GIRLS> UHMM YES PLEASE, shove it to my face any day!
I must unequivocally admit that the fact that I am magnetized by books (ahem. Mayqueen Murders. Ahem. The Disappearnces. Ahem. The Missing Season) with stories taking place in small towns filled with secrets, murder, a multitude of lyrical writing, atmospheric and characters that seem straight out of real life had a lot (and by a lot I mean A LOT. LOT) with me falling head over heels with Ghost Wood Song.
With music that binds the Grove family and secrets that lurk within the woods, Shady Grove finds herself in a tug of war between keeping the love for her dad alive after his demise and choosing between her sanity. Her dad’s fiddle that calls upon ghosts is the only chance her brother has at freedom after being held guilty for the death of her stepdad. But that fiddle is synonymous to darkness and destruction and the vices that comes along with it.
I was absolutely stunned and lost in Waters’ writing. The rhythmic flow of secrets and the pace, the familiarity of the relationships and the characters brought to me a whirlwind of emotions. The fact that my utmost favourite themes i.e a YA murder mystery in a spooky setting with abundance of lyrical and melancholic yet mesmerizing writing, was done to almost utter perfection makes my heart full.
Also, can I just say the romance aspect is just done so beautifully? Like UHM IT FEELS REALISTIC AND I JUST WANNA SAY CAN WE HAVE MORE ROMANCE LIKE THIS PLEASE <3 There might be a minor spoiler alert with this part so I am just gonna say that it’s just overwhelmingly amazing and yes we get CLOSURE <3
The visions Shady experienced: the ghosts and the details of the otherside could’ve been a bit more fleshed out in my opinion, though maybe the descriptions a bit more lucid. And that is the only qualm I have. The magic, the creepiness, the overflowing suspense and the hauntingly beautiful setting made THE GHOST WOOD SONG stand out for me!
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I must unequivocally admit that the fact that I am magnetized by books (ahem. Mayqueen Murders. Ahem. The Disappearnces. Ahem. The Missing Season) with stories taking place in small towns filled with secrets, murder, a multitude of lyrical writing, atmospheric and characters that seem straight out of real life had a lot (and by a lot I mean A LOT. LOT) with me falling head over heels with Ghost Wood Song.
With music that binds the Grove family and secrets that lurk within the woods, Shady Grove finds herself in a tug of war between keeping the love for her dad alive after his demise and choosing between her sanity. Her dad’s fiddle that calls upon ghosts is the only chance her brother has at freedom after being held guilty for the death of her stepdad. But that fiddle is synonymous to darkness and destruction and the vices that comes along with it.
I was absolutely stunned and lost in Waters’ writing. The rhythmic flow of secrets and the pace, the familiarity of the relationships and the characters brought to me a whirlwind of emotions. The fact that my utmost favourite themes i.e a YA murder mystery in a spooky setting with abundance of lyrical and melancholic yet mesmerizing writing, was done to almost utter perfection makes my heart full.
Also, can I just say the romance aspect is just done so beautifully? Like UHM IT FEELS REALISTIC AND I JUST WANNA SAY CAN WE HAVE MORE ROMANCE LIKE THIS PLEASE <3 There might be a minor spoiler alert with this part so I am just gonna say that it’s just overwhelmingly amazing and yes we get CLOSURE <3
The visions Shady experienced: the ghosts and the details of the otherside could’ve been a bit more fleshed out in my opinion, though maybe the descriptions a bit more lucid. And that is the only qualm I have. The magic, the creepiness, the overflowing suspense and the hauntingly beautiful setting made THE GHOST WOOD SONG stand out for me!
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
whitreadslit's review
4.0
This was our book club pick for October and I really liked it! I’m starting to wonder if I need to revise my stance on horror novels. It was creepy and revolved around music, which was such a fun plot device. Such a great read for this time of year
void_faerie's review
3.0
Shady lost her father years ago during a tragic car accident but has started to hear his fiddle playing his songs in the woods. Her fathers fiddle had the power to summon ghosts and after her brother is charged with the murder of her stepdad, she hopes to use that power herself and clear his name.
Ghost Wood Sing was a nice easy read. It was nice to see some bisexual representation which wasn’t the main focus of the story. The book was mysterious and focused on family secrets and grief.
I found it difficult to empathise with Shady, not because I haven’t experienced grief but because she is a very angry character who often takes it out in other people and it left me feeling quite frustrated a lot of the time. That said, I do feel she develops throughout the book to be more thoughtful.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ghost Wood Sing was a nice easy read. It was nice to see some bisexual representation which wasn’t the main focus of the story. The book was mysterious and focused on family secrets and grief.
I found it difficult to empathise with Shady, not because I haven’t experienced grief but because she is a very angry character who often takes it out in other people and it left me feeling quite frustrated a lot of the time. That said, I do feel she develops throughout the book to be more thoughtful.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
lila_still_reads's review
4.0
This book attacked my mandolin-playing queer self on a personal level (I say this with so much love). Music does have a power greater than death- I lost both my grandfathers early in life and it does feel like I could maybe summon their ghosts when I play their old sheet music. Erica Waters taps into that feeling- I teared up at Shady's descriptions of how playing made her feel near to her father.
This story reminded me of Horrid, in a good way- some hurting, tough as nails ladies with dark family history trying to come into their own despite the ghosts.
[bc:Horrid|50358142|Horrid|Katrina Leno|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579613001l/50358142._SY75_.jpg|70471341]
Also-
The angst and awkwardness between Shady and the female component of her love triangle (bi-love triangles are a gift to YA) was just too real.
Read this if you like: spooky Florida stories, bluegrass, LGBTQANGST, modern gothics
I really enjoyed this book and read it so quickly- very excited that I have an ARC for The River Has Teeth.
This story reminded me of Horrid, in a good way- some hurting, tough as nails ladies with dark family history trying to come into their own despite the ghosts.
[bc:Horrid|50358142|Horrid|Katrina Leno|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579613001l/50358142._SY75_.jpg|70471341]
Also-
The angst and awkwardness between Shady and the female component of her love triangle (bi-love triangles are a gift to YA) was just too real.
Read this if you like: spooky Florida stories, bluegrass, LGBTQANGST, modern gothics
I really enjoyed this book and read it so quickly- very excited that I have an ARC for The River Has Teeth.
dawn_chen's review
4.0
Four stars!!! This is a very underrated 2020 new release. I was apprehensive at the beginning because the characters we're acting a bit toxic and even the main character wasn't that lovable (she kind of was judgemental towards people just because they aren't vegetarians like her). But all the toxicity was called out and abusive people who are toxic are called out by the narrative for their toxicity and wasn't excused or absorbed in any way. The mystery was nice if not a bit simplistic, but who am I to judge the mystery in my own story is quite simple as well. What really matters is the discussion of grief, the atmospheric writing, and most importantly, the people - the characters who are all flawed yet willing to grow. It was a very satisfying read.
PS: I actually really appreciate that the bi main character ended up with boy in the love triangle rather than the girl, because so many times I've read the narrative that even if you're bi you should choose girls more than guys because somehow guys are automatically more toxic than girls? Which is untrue and in this story where the wlw relationship is clearly less healthy than the mlw one, so it makes perfect sense who the mc choose in the end.
PS: I actually really appreciate that the bi main character ended up with boy in the love triangle rather than the girl, because so many times I've read the narrative that even if you're bi you should choose girls more than guys because somehow guys are automatically more toxic than girls? Which is untrue and in this story where the wlw relationship is clearly less healthy than the mlw one, so it makes perfect sense who the mc choose in the end.