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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A few words to intrigue you to this book: Sticky, Gothic, Cicada, Horror, Summer
The minute I started this book, I immediately felt like a big sister over these characters. It was heartbreaking the neglect these characters had from their parents and the traumatic instances they were going through. The multiple POVs did take a bit to get used to, but each character was very multi-dimensional and added insight to the story. I especially enjoyed the cultural aspects of the book and thought it added another layer of depth to the story. I would agree with other reviewers to check trigger warnings if there are ones that are specific to you.
Overall, I think readers who enjoy Southern Gothic themes and horror will enjoy this read.
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy of When Devils Sing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
thank you to NetGalley for allowing me access to the eARC of this book!
When The Devils Sing is a dark and twisty love letter to the American Deep South. this story touches on real issues that are happening in America while giving us a paranormal twist you don’t expect.
the imagery is reminiscent of The Starling House, while the story reminded me of Mexican Gothic. When Devils Sing is still super original and I enjoyed it very much.
the end of this book had my heart rate through the roof. it really kept me guessing. When Devils Sing begs the question: what would you give the Devil to get what you want?
When The Devils Sing is a dark and twisty love letter to the American Deep South. this story touches on real issues that are happening in America while giving us a paranormal twist you don’t expect.
the imagery is reminiscent of The Starling House, while the story reminded me of Mexican Gothic. When Devils Sing is still super original and I enjoyed it very much.
the end of this book had my heart rate through the roof. it really kept me guessing. When Devils Sing begs the question: what would you give the Devil to get what you want?
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
slow-paced
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Xan Kaur for the advance listening copy of When Devils Sing. All opinions are my own.
⭐⭐.5
When Devils Sing takes place in the heat of summer in rural Georgia. We follow 4 perspectives as 4 teens are affected by the disappearance of Dawson Sumter and the subsequent mysterious goings-on that come with the reappearance of cicadas every 13 years.
One thing I will say about this book is that the writing is atmospheric, and I think the writing is one of the things that kept me going. Otherwise, I struggled with this story. I hesitate to even label it horror. There were a few scenes, but overall, it just felt like a surface-level mystery. And when it came to the Devils, I expected so much more. They didn't feel menacing or like the tricksters we typically know Devils to be in literature. I feel like if a perspective or 2 had been cut, we could have really dived into the lore of the Devils and how they truly affect the community. I just wanted more from this story. I feel like things wrapped up too simply and without as many consequences as there should have been.
Thank You Macmillian Audio and Netgalley for the ARC!
This was a perfect gothic southern horror novel that showed the horrors of the rich. I loved the dual POV, the podcast that was woven throughout, and the characters. I really loved that it was clear the author is from the south, and appreciates parts of southern culture while acknowledging the bad aspects of it. Often, I find they make the southern characters stupid, and I hate that, but these kids were smart and clever. I am happy with how it ended, even though it often feels like the justice wasn't really fair.
I will be snagging as shelf trophy of this.
This was a perfect gothic southern horror novel that showed the horrors of the rich. I loved the dual POV, the podcast that was woven throughout, and the characters. I really loved that it was clear the author is from the south, and appreciates parts of southern culture while acknowledging the bad aspects of it. Often, I find they make the southern characters stupid, and I hate that, but these kids were smart and clever. I am happy with how it ended, even though it often feels like the justice wasn't really fair.
I will be snagging as shelf trophy of this.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
“In Carrion, they have a saying: The devil can be seen coming from a mile away. That is where our story begins.
There’s the devil you know,
the devil you don’t,
the devil you wish you’d never met.”
When Devils Sing is a southern gothic mystery that unfolds through multiple perspectives. Every thirteen years mysterious deaths occur in Lake Clearwater. This explores the divide between the elite and poor and what people are willing to sacrifice to get ahead.
This story is a tangled web; it’s exciting to see the plot unfold from multiple different perspectives. The fast changes between perspectives make the story flow quickly and it captured my attention right away. The mysterious nature had me flipping pages until I figured out what was going on. The author’s voice is incredible. I had a really easy time immersing myself into the story. It’s super creepy and eerie, but I would say it’s more mysterious than it is scary. Check trigger warnings; the most notable is probably the gruesome animal cruelty displayed in here.
If you liked the movie Sinners, I recommend you give this a read! It also gave me Outer Banks vibes, albeit darker.
Phenomenal debut!
Thank you to Netgalley, Xan Kaur, and Macmillan Children’s Publishing group for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
There’s the devil you know,
the devil you don’t,
the devil you wish you’d never met.”
When Devils Sing is a southern gothic mystery that unfolds through multiple perspectives. Every thirteen years mysterious deaths occur in Lake Clearwater. This explores the divide between the elite and poor and what people are willing to sacrifice to get ahead.
This story is a tangled web; it’s exciting to see the plot unfold from multiple different perspectives. The fast changes between perspectives make the story flow quickly and it captured my attention right away. The mysterious nature had me flipping pages until I figured out what was going on. The author’s voice is incredible. I had a really easy time immersing myself into the story. It’s super creepy and eerie, but I would say it’s more mysterious than it is scary. Check trigger warnings; the most notable is probably the gruesome animal cruelty displayed in here.
If you liked the movie Sinners, I recommend you give this a read! It also gave me Outer Banks vibes, albeit darker.
Phenomenal debut!
Thank you to Netgalley, Xan Kaur, and Macmillan Children’s Publishing group for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
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 an e-ARC and am giving my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!
I could not put this book down. I read about 10% of it one night, picked it up again the next night and didn't put it back down until it was 3 am and I had finished it. I was completely enthralled in the characters and the twists and mystery of it all. I, surprisingly, didn't have much trouble with the amount of POVs we had for chapters. Each character was very quickly easily identifiable and I knew who was who. I never found myself reading one character's POV and wishing it was someone else, which is rare for me. I loved each character equally, always excited to see what they were up to.
The mystery was very well done. I loved how it unfolded and came together. The ending did feel rushed, and I wish we had more information on a few of the characters in the aftermath, but the book as a whole made up for it. I loved the characters of the Devils, and loved how different they seemed with how each interacted with people.
This was a super engaging and twisty read, always kept me on my toes and anxious to flip the page.
I could not put this book down. I read about 10% of it one night, picked it up again the next night and didn't put it back down until it was 3 am and I had finished it. I was completely enthralled in the characters and the twists and mystery of it all. I, surprisingly, didn't have much trouble with the amount of POVs we had for chapters. Each character was very quickly easily identifiable and I knew who was who. I never found myself reading one character's POV and wishing it was someone else, which is rare for me. I loved each character equally, always excited to see what they were up to.
The mystery was very well done. I loved how it unfolded and came together. The ending did feel rushed, and I wish we had more information on a few of the characters in the aftermath, but the book as a whole made up for it. I loved the characters of the Devils, and loved how different they seemed with how each interacted with people.
This was a super engaging and twisty read, always kept me on my toes and anxious to flip the page.