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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
A southern gothic horror novel full of interesting, mysterious characters, beautiful settings, and the singularly fascinating premise of grave birds - a bird that is physically bound to the earth by an invisible tether holding them here as a representative of a soul with unfinished business.
Our main character, Hollis, drowned and was revived when she was eleven and since then she can see grave birds. It's a haunting and beautiful concept and one that plagues her as the birds cannot be freed until she's understood what their message is. (And this whole wonderfully, gorgeously tragic idea now has me obsessing about the nature of the birds. Different species appear for different people, there's no one type: cardinal, sparrow, chickadee, etc. So I keep wondering if the species is geographically specific, or more a representation of the person's personality? Would you get a shima enaga or a kakapo in South Carolina...? How about a penguin? ๐ค)
Now in her mid-20s, she's been noticing some strange things happening in her South Carolina town: a stranger arrives, natural disasters frequent the area, mysterious accidents befall the local residents and a decades old mystery starts to resurface.
Elmendorf's writing is perfectly on point for a southern gothic tale, full of lush settings, quirky characters, haunting family secrets and unsettling tragic ghosts. She crafts a murder mystery that is complex and compelling and the main character is easily relatable. The overall feel of this was strongly reminiscent of a cross with Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil and the 2000 movie The Gift to give you an idea of tone and style.
My only criticism is that the 'big reveal' felt a bit rushed and confusing, a little out of sync with the pacing of the novel as a whole.
Otherwise, a great book!
My thanks to NetGalley and MIRABooks for the complimentary Advanced Reader Copy.
Our main character, Hollis, drowned and was revived when she was eleven and since then she can see grave birds. It's a haunting and beautiful concept and one that plagues her as the birds cannot be freed until she's understood what their message is. (And this whole wonderfully, gorgeously tragic idea now has me obsessing about the nature of the birds. Different species appear for different people, there's no one type: cardinal, sparrow, chickadee, etc. So I keep wondering if the species is geographically specific, or more a representation of the person's personality? Would you get a shima enaga or a kakapo in South Carolina...? How about a penguin? ๐ค)
Now in her mid-20s, she's been noticing some strange things happening in her South Carolina town: a stranger arrives, natural disasters frequent the area, mysterious accidents befall the local residents and a decades old mystery starts to resurface.
Elmendorf's writing is perfectly on point for a southern gothic tale, full of lush settings, quirky characters, haunting family secrets and unsettling tragic ghosts. She crafts a murder mystery that is complex and compelling and the main character is easily relatable. The overall feel of this was strongly reminiscent of a cross with Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil and the 2000 movie The Gift to give you an idea of tone and style.
My only criticism is that the 'big reveal' felt a bit rushed and confusing, a little out of sync with the pacing of the novel as a whole.
Otherwise, a great book!
My thanks to NetGalley and MIRABooks for the complimentary Advanced Reader Copy.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ฆ Southern Gothic
๐ฆ Atmospheric
๐ฆ Mystery/Who Done It
๐ฆ Smidge of Romance
๐ฆ Small Southern Town with Dark Family Secrets
๐ฆ Paranormal/Haunting
๐ฆ Magical Realism
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires x Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil = Grave Birds
Paige-TheBookAndTheBoston (Goodreads) created a new subgenre for books like this: cozy horror, and I couldn't agree more.
"Sometimes the dead have unfinished business."
Grave Birds is an eerily fun, haunting juxtaposition of a wildly mysterious, religious, small town in the south full of dark family secrets, and a woman who died as a kid but was revived with a paranormal gift that grabbed me by the throat immediately and didn't let up until it's final page (to be honest, I might still be at a gorgeous gala in Hawthorne, South Carolina). The twists and reveals are currently my favorite of 2025 - I didn't see that coming and I love that I didn't.
-----
When our main character, Hollis, was 11, she died. Shortly after being brought back to life, she started seeing Grave Birds - ghostly manifestations of the dead's unfinished business. These birds know that Hollis can see them, and only see can set them, and the dead souls that represent, free.
Now, Hollis is an adult who just started her own event planning business and is working tirelessly to make it big in her small town of Hawthorne, South Carolina.
Things are going alright enough, as well as they can with small town politics in play, until the day a handsome, albeit eerie, stranger shows up in town - Cain. Then this small town in the deep south starts to take on a truly eerie atmosphere as more and more bizarre and unexplainable events begin to occur - some that have the religious folks in town certain that these events are sure signs that the Devil has returned.
While planning the gala that will make or break her career, Hollis is also attempting to get to the heart of this nest of lies and uncover all the truths the grave birds have to show her. Truths that the wealthiest and most powerful in the area have done everything in the power to cover up over the last 25 years. Oh, and dating Cain - who may be in town for nefarious reasons.
-----
๐ For me, the plot was sublime. I pride myself on being able to figure out most reveals ahead of the reveal(s). That wasn't the case with this book, not even close. And it managed to truly confound me without coming across as contrived or making me roll my eyes. Full on ๐คฏ. It's been a while since I've read a book with such well executed twists and turns.
โ๐ผ I found the prose to be beautiful and seeping with atmosphere. I love the way Dana manages to tow the prose-line with being descriptive. Somehow she manages to write in a way that nearly overflows with atmosphere without crossing into purple
Her word choices feel deliberate and well thought out.
"A murder of crows settles in the trees; it's the hour when the day has almost ended and the night is not quite here."
I love that Dana adds in tiny little Easter egg tie-ins to her other books (like the above quote, an homage to In The Hour of Crows). If you haven't read them, no worries, it doesn't impact anything. Just a fun little thing for people that have.
"Hey, dickhead! Excuse me is the polite thing to say."
I found the dialogue to read as natural and befitting the characters. There are itty bits of levity occasionally provided via dialogue, helping ease the tension from becoming overwhelming.
I love when books are written using colloquialisms and while not technically grammatically correct they're true to how many in that area, of that generation, speak. If you don't enjoy that, some of the dialogue may not be your thing (the latter only really applies to one minor character).
โณ Grave Birds moves along fairly quickly. I didn't want to put it down, but I also kind of didn't want it to end.
Tension is the main propellent to the plot, and is well used. Dialogue is well placed to tease the plot out while keeping the pace moving fairly quickly.
โYou know what a little bird told me?โ
๐ฎ I found the grave birds idea to be enthralling and unique. Someone who can solve crimes, settle things for the dead, etc by finding their grave bird and allowing it to show them whatever their associated soul wants her to see.
"Murder feels like a viable option today."
๐ฅ Phenomenal characters full of nuance and personality. I love that Dana shows the duality of humanity, and I love the way she goes about it. It's there, sometimes in the subtext, but it is there.
"A storm is certainly brewing, and I canโt help but feel like hell is coming to Hawthorne now the devil has come home to roost."
๐ From their angry first meeting, I was torn (like Hollis is) on whether Cain is there for nefarious purposes, or not. Once he said to Hollis, "Who did this?!" I was ๐ฏ in on him being there for "good" reasons, even if he turned out to be morally grey. ๐
๐๏ธ ๐ป The mystery and haunted type paranormal aspects were an eerily fun time.
If you liked: In The Hour of Crows, A House with Good Bones (T. Kingfisher), The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires (Grady Hendrix), or Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (John Berendt), then I think you'd enjoy Grave Birds.
-----
Thank you to Dana Elmendorf, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. Thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Content Warnings
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love a good southern gothic story and Grave Birds did not disappoint! This story is full of mystery and intrigue that will keep you reading, plus an good dose of ghosts, possible murders, and a touch of romance.
I 100% did not know how this story was going to end and the plot twist was GOOD. If you want a mystery you won't be able to guess the ending to, try this one out.
4.25โญ
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for my review.
I 100% did not know how this story was going to end and the plot twist was GOOD. If you want a mystery you won't be able to guess the ending to, try this one out.
4.25โญ
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for my review.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ๐ซ
Thank you Dana Elmendorf, HTP, The Hive, Mira, & Harlequin Audio for the gifted copies!
Grave Birds
Dana Elmendorf
Publishing Date: July 1, 2025
๐ง Narrator: Brittany Pressley ๐ง
I really loved Danaโs debut novel, In the Hour of Crows, and think Dana is just an awesome human. So when the opportunity to receive a PR box for this book came up I was so excited!
This novel is so beautifully haunting and atmospheric. Itโs spooky without being too scary. I absolutely love magical realism and it is done to perfection here. The southern gothic vibes are on point. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end. And there was even a dash of romance.
Hollis Sutherland had a near death experience as a child and has been touched by death ever since. She has the ability to see Grave Birds and when she touches one she is swept away into the mind of the deceased where she can see the events leading up to their death.
With this sophomore novel Dana Elmendorf has proven herself a consistently strong writer, a beautiful storyteller, and a master at creating haunting, gothic, atmospheric vibes. She was already an auto-buy author for me, and this second book just further proves why.
๐ง I read this one with my ears because how can you not when Brittany Pressley is narrating? It is no surprise that she is absolutely flawless here. There are a handful of narrators that if I see they are doing a book itโs an automatic audio for me, and sheโs one of them!
Thank you Dana Elmendorf, HTP, The Hive, Mira, & Harlequin Audio for the gifted copies!
Grave Birds
Dana Elmendorf
Publishing Date: July 1, 2025
๐ง Narrator: Brittany Pressley ๐ง
I really loved Danaโs debut novel, In the Hour of Crows, and think Dana is just an awesome human. So when the opportunity to receive a PR box for this book came up I was so excited!
This novel is so beautifully haunting and atmospheric. Itโs spooky without being too scary. I absolutely love magical realism and it is done to perfection here. The southern gothic vibes are on point. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end. And there was even a dash of romance.
Hollis Sutherland had a near death experience as a child and has been touched by death ever since. She has the ability to see Grave Birds and when she touches one she is swept away into the mind of the deceased where she can see the events leading up to their death.
With this sophomore novel Dana Elmendorf has proven herself a consistently strong writer, a beautiful storyteller, and a master at creating haunting, gothic, atmospheric vibes. She was already an auto-buy author for me, and this second book just further proves why.
๐ง I read this one with my ears because how can you not when Brittany Pressley is narrating? It is no surprise that she is absolutely flawless here. There are a handful of narrators that if I see they are doing a book itโs an automatic audio for me, and sheโs one of them!
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Dana Elmendorf does paranormal southern mystery very well. I enjoyed In The Hour of Crows very much, and it was a much darker atmospheric read than Grave Birds, which was not in the mountains. It was a quick, engrossing read that I enjoyed. I am not someone who tries to solve the mystery before the ending, and I was deeply invested in how the mystery was revealed in this story. I enjoyed the almost Biblical supernatural elements and the vengeance being meted out. I could have spent more time with these characters and gotten to know them better, which would have been nice. I recommend this book, and I hope this author keeps writing her stories, as I enjoy them.
Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, for the eArc. These opinions are mine.
Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, for the eArc. These opinions are mine.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was spooky, eerie, and atmospheric. I loved it so much!! I loved the characters and the setting so much!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Car accident
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Classism
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollinsca for the early digital copy in exchange for an honest review
๐ฟโจ Grave Birds by Dana Elmendorf is the perfect gothic escape with just the right touch of magic and mystery.
Set in a sleepy Southern town brimming with secrets, this story hooked me from the very first page. I couldnโt get enough of the atmospheric writing, haunting family curses, and the fierce, relatable heroine determined to uncover the truth.
Elmendorfโs blend of eerie folklore and heartfelt emotion creates a story that completely sweeps you away. A must-read for fans of dark, enchanting tales! ๐ค๐
Publication Date: July 1, 2025
๐ฟโจ Grave Birds by Dana Elmendorf is the perfect gothic escape with just the right touch of magic and mystery.
Set in a sleepy Southern town brimming with secrets, this story hooked me from the very first page. I couldnโt get enough of the atmospheric writing, haunting family curses, and the fierce, relatable heroine determined to uncover the truth.
Elmendorfโs blend of eerie folklore and heartfelt emotion creates a story that completely sweeps you away. A must-read for fans of dark, enchanting tales! ๐ค๐
Publication Date: July 1, 2025
Book Review: Grave Birds by Dana Elmendorf
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
Dana Elmendorf delivers another captivating story steeped in atmosphere and heart with Grave Birdsโa Southern gothic mystery that blends charm, suspense, and just the right touch of the uncanny.
From the first chapter, I was pulled in by Elmendorfโs signature writing styleโlush, immersive, and emotionally resonant. She has a real gift for crafting characters that feel alive, and in Grave Birds, every voice is distinct, every scene steeped in a haunting sense of place. The Southern setting is full of grit and grace, adding layers of texture to a mystery that unfolds at the perfect pace.
The concept of the grave birds themselves was so unique and compelling, adding a quiet magical realism that gave the story a rich folkloric undertone. I was equally drawn in by the relationships between characters and the small-town secrets buried just beneath the surface.
I can confidently say Iโll read anything Dana Elmendorf writes from here on out.
I highly recommend Grave Birds to fans of her previous work, as well as readers who enjoy mystery, atmospheric settings, and emotionally immersive storytelling.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance listening copy (ALC).
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
Dana Elmendorf delivers another captivating story steeped in atmosphere and heart with Grave Birdsโa Southern gothic mystery that blends charm, suspense, and just the right touch of the uncanny.
From the first chapter, I was pulled in by Elmendorfโs signature writing styleโlush, immersive, and emotionally resonant. She has a real gift for crafting characters that feel alive, and in Grave Birds, every voice is distinct, every scene steeped in a haunting sense of place. The Southern setting is full of grit and grace, adding layers of texture to a mystery that unfolds at the perfect pace.
The concept of the grave birds themselves was so unique and compelling, adding a quiet magical realism that gave the story a rich folkloric undertone. I was equally drawn in by the relationships between characters and the small-town secrets buried just beneath the surface.
I can confidently say Iโll read anything Dana Elmendorf writes from here on out.
I highly recommend Grave Birds to fans of her previous work, as well as readers who enjoy mystery, atmospheric settings, and emotionally immersive storytelling.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance listening copy (ALC).
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you so much for the beautiful story. Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the chance to listen as I read. I am blown away with how much I loved the story. I read it way to fast and was so disappointed it was over. This has everything this girl wants in a book!
Hollis was such a great character. I loved so much about her, even her gift. It broke me the guilt she carries with her everyday because of her grandfather's passing. She is having such a rough time but continuously remains optimistic all while not being naive.
When Cain comes into the picture I was very unsure how I felt about him. I came up with my opinion rather quickly. Hollis' bird really steals the show often. The gothic and paranormal aspects I thought were done so well. Just the perfect amount that it was so believable. I often kept forgetting this was fiction because I was in this story. I felt a part of what was happening. It pulled me in and I was there for it.
The twist threw me for a loop. I did not see it coming. I knew something was coming but not that! I hope to read more of this author soon.
โผโโโกโโข
๐ฆน Horror
๐ฆน Fantasy
๐ฆน Paranormal
๐ฆน Gothic
๊ง๐ ๐พ๐ธ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ผ๊ง
โจ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐จ. ๐ฝ๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ชโฆ.. ๐ฎ๐ค๐ชโ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ข๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ก๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ฃ๐.โ
๐๐๐๐ง๐โ๐จ ๐ ๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ข๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐. ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐จ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐. ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ก๐ฎ ๐จ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ก๐ก๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ค๐๐ฎ. ๐๐ฉ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ค๐๐ก, ๐๐ค๐ฌ๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ ๐ง๐ค๐ค๐ฉ๐จ. ๐พ๐ก๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐จ๐ ๐ข๐ค๐จ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐จ.
Hollis was such a great character. I loved so much about her, even her gift. It broke me the guilt she carries with her everyday because of her grandfather's passing. She is having such a rough time but continuously remains optimistic all while not being naive.
When Cain comes into the picture I was very unsure how I felt about him. I came up with my opinion rather quickly. Hollis' bird really steals the show often. The gothic and paranormal aspects I thought were done so well. Just the perfect amount that it was so believable. I often kept forgetting this was fiction because I was in this story. I felt a part of what was happening. It pulled me in and I was there for it.
The twist threw me for a loop. I did not see it coming. I knew something was coming but not that! I hope to read more of this author soon.
โผโโโกโโข
๐ฆน Horror
๐ฆน Fantasy
๐ฆน Paranormal
๐ฆน Gothic
๊ง๐ ๐พ๐ธ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ผ๊ง
โจ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐จ. ๐ฝ๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ชโฆ.. ๐ฎ๐ค๐ชโ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ข๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ก๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ฃ๐.โ
๐๐๐๐ง๐โ๐จ ๐ ๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ข๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐. ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐จ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐. ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ก๐ฎ ๐จ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ก๐ก๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ค๐๐ฎ. ๐๐ฉ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ค๐๐ก, ๐๐ค๐ฌ๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ ๐ง๐ค๐ค๐ฉ๐จ. ๐พ๐ก๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐จ๐ ๐ข๐ค๐จ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐จ.