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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- I received this book as an arc from netgalley -
This book was so good! I wasn‘t convinced in the beginning but stayed for the characters and the writing style, which could be a bit repetitive but it pulled me in and was very engaging! The plot really picked up at about halfway through and I read the last 50% in one sitting!
This reads like a ya/na horror (which i love) and would be a great read for someone wanting to start reading horror!
This book was so good! I wasn‘t convinced in the beginning but stayed for the characters and the writing style, which could be a bit repetitive but it pulled me in and was very engaging! The plot really picked up at about halfway through and I read the last 50% in one sitting!
This reads like a ya/na horror (which i love) and would be a great read for someone wanting to start reading horror!
ARC READ - NetGallery & Turner Publishing Company | Keylight Books
This book is different from the ones I usually read and I was drawn to its cover. The story reads like a YA novel and a beginner's introduction to horror.
It follows Mila-May as she finally returns home only to discover that both her brother and sister are missing. The sheriff and reverend show no interest in finding them. Meanwhile Mila hears the voices of those who died in the bog that is alive.
A warning there is substance abuse her mother struggles with alcoholism and she struggles panic attacks.
This book is different from the ones I usually read and I was drawn to its cover. The story reads like a YA novel and a beginner's introduction to horror.
It follows Mila-May as she finally returns home only to discover that both her brother and sister are missing. The sheriff and reverend show no interest in finding them. Meanwhile Mila hears the voices of those who died in the bog that is alive.
A warning there is substance abuse her mother struggles with alcoholism and she struggles panic attacks.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Rating: C
Spit Back the Bones is a new adult / young adult horror novel set in a swampy small town that hides a dark secret bubbling under the surface. Mila-May has returned to see her family and wish her sister success as she leaves for college, but when she arrives, she discovers that her sister is missing. Much in the same way that her brother went missing 3 years prior.
I can't say I really enjoyed this book. The character's voice felt like she was both a teenager and a writer, dropping poetic similes and metaphors every second sentence. She was edgy and angry and would say likes like, "No one deserves to die...except maybe you." It all felt like it took itself too seriously and going in I wasn't sure what to expect.
The book is promoted like midnight mass (something I haven't seen) and as a horrormance. But to be honest the horror aspect is the main portion and the romance is basically nonexistent, it's not a typical romance story and it's not quite functional enough for my tastes as a horror. It's trying to be gross and shocking but the constant mentions of smells and scents over the physical feelings and the comical fighting took me out of the novel constantly.
I struggled with the main character's voice and how every single time she looked at her boyfriend she would bring up the torment in his eyes or how tormented everyone was. It was good for characterising the group but it didn't appeal to me.
I will admit that the novel does feel very small town, southern USA and I appreciated the environment and claustrophobia but I didn't enjoy this one that much.
Spit Back the Bones is a new adult / young adult horror novel set in a swampy small town that hides a dark secret bubbling under the surface. Mila-May has returned to see her family and wish her sister success as she leaves for college, but when she arrives, she discovers that her sister is missing. Much in the same way that her brother went missing 3 years prior.
I can't say I really enjoyed this book. The character's voice felt like she was both a teenager and a writer, dropping poetic similes and metaphors every second sentence. She was edgy and angry and would say likes like, "No one deserves to die...except maybe you." It all felt like it took itself too seriously and going in I wasn't sure what to expect.
The book is promoted like midnight mass (something I haven't seen) and as a horrormance. But to be honest the horror aspect is the main portion and the romance is basically nonexistent, it's not a typical romance story and it's not quite functional enough for my tastes as a horror. It's trying to be gross and shocking but the constant mentions of smells and scents over the physical feelings and the comical fighting took me out of the novel constantly.
I struggled with the main character's voice and how every single time she looked at her boyfriend she would bring up the torment in his eyes or how tormented everyone was. It was good for characterising the group but it didn't appeal to me.
I will admit that the novel does feel very small town, southern USA and I appreciated the environment and claustrophobia but I didn't enjoy this one that much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Religious bigotry
I came back to this title sooo many times before I applied for the ARC.
It's not my typical genre - in fact, the last horror book I read was a Stephen King when I was bout 13.
Something about this one was just calling to me tho0ugh, and I'm so glad I read it.
I spent most of the book giving my husband a heart attack with the amount of gasping, gagging and hiding under the hood of my jumper I was doing, but then the other parts were sweet and romantic and a great little respite from the general horror and suspense that was the rest of it.
I'm not sure if I will pick up another horror book, but I will definitely read a Teagan Olivia King one.
Her style of writing is intelligent, flows smoothly, descriptive in a way that isn't distracting, and the story she weaves is traumatic, angst filled, thrilling and pretty freaking gross. Enjoy!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to provide an honest review for this ARC!
It's not my typical genre - in fact, the last horror book I read was a Stephen King when I was bout 13.
Something about this one was just calling to me tho0ugh, and I'm so glad I read it.
I spent most of the book giving my husband a heart attack with the amount of gasping, gagging and hiding under the hood of my jumper I was doing, but then the other parts were sweet and romantic and a great little respite from the general horror and suspense that was the rest of it.
I'm not sure if I will pick up another horror book, but I will definitely read a Teagan Olivia King one.
Her style of writing is intelligent, flows smoothly, descriptive in a way that isn't distracting, and the story she weaves is traumatic, angst filled, thrilling and pretty freaking gross. Enjoy!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to provide an honest review for this ARC!
girls. i'm obsessed. i like scary bog books and i cannot lie.
the pacing felt just a little bit off at times and the mood kind of jumped from adult to YA a few times, so i'd rather have had more consistency, but overall this was a fantastic read
the pacing felt just a little bit off at times and the mood kind of jumped from adult to YA a few times, so i'd rather have had more consistency, but overall this was a fantastic read
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to the publisher for this ARC! This was a really solid debut, so atmospheric and spooky with a beautifully haunting story. Mila is a really interesting character and you really see the different sides to her depending on who she is with. The writing was phenomenal, and it really didn’t take long to pull me in. Huge congrats to Teagan, I think horror fans will really love this one!
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was so beautifully written! It instantly took me in and had me hooked! Mila was so bad ass and I loved how she took no trash from anyone.
The bog itself was super interesting and I really liked its point of view. It was a really great story.
The bog itself was super interesting and I really liked its point of view. It was a really great story.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
a harrowing, illuminating story of grief, love, legacy, and remembrance, teagan olivia king's debut novel SPIT BACK THE BONES is a beautiful immortalization of her late brother, an unflinching exploration of religion and power, and a searing tribute to the love of both blood family and found family. SPIT BACK THE BONES is a haunting horror-romance you absolutely do not want to miss, and i can't wait to see where king leads us next!
will share rating and review closer to publish date. thank you to netgalley for the ARC!
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A small town and a Bog. The perfect atmosphere for a gothic horror. People have gone missing and the cases went cold but the Bog can speak to those who listen. Mila Thomas can hear the Bog. She can hear the dead that old Thomas Bog has swallowed. You can feel the anger and disappointment bent up in our MC Mila. Her grandmother is dead, Her brother has been missing for 3 years, her mother is an alcoholic and now her sister is missing. Everywhere Mila goes death follows.
This story starts out running and gripping. It does slow down a bit around the 60% mark but its only to fill in the haunting back story so I appreciated that. It’s during this portion that the lyrical writing shines through and continues throughout the rest of the story. In my opinion this book was a haunting, poetically written and beautifully executed. I truly enjoyed it.
This story starts out running and gripping. It does slow down a bit around the 60% mark but its only to fill in the haunting back story so I appreciated that. It’s during this portion that the lyrical writing shines through and continues throughout the rest of the story. In my opinion this book was a haunting, poetically written and beautifully executed. I truly enjoyed it.