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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-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
adventurous
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
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I thought this was pretty solid! it’s slow paced and atmospheric with quite a few different elements - I felt there was a bit too much at times (the cicadas, the devils, the rich people stuff, each of the MCs) and it felt a little disconnected, especially as it took most of the book for them to all start working together and then it all explodes at the end very fast and dramatically
But the character’s individual situations/narratives are really compelling - it’s very much about teens in desperate situations doing what they can to survive. I liked the different friendships and familial situations, diversity and queerness, and the fact that there was hardly any romance (just some attraction/possible future thing)
IT WAS OKAY. i gave a 3 on goodreads but am giving a 2.75 here solely for the fact that i dont think i'll be impacted by this book in a big way. it was maybe a bit predictable. and i wish we got to see more of the aftermath... i feel like i went in expecting for our 4 main characters to become a close knit group with their own individual dynamics AND WE DIDDD GET A GLIMPSE OF THAT but at the end for instance did sam and reid make up...? DID DAWSON AND REID TALK TOO LIKE I NEEDED ONE FINAL SCENE WITH ALL OF THEMMMM
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
“The Deep South is a place as beautiful as it is grotesque, as wonderful as it is terrifying. It’s a region of incredible complexity, but it’s not a place we often see in mainstream media. And if we do, it’s rarely depicted with the nuance and dignity it deserves. When Devils Sing is my attempt to change that.” —Xan Kaur
Kaur’s words in the author’s note perfectly capture the tone for this Southern Gothic debut, which explores the darkness and beauty of a rural Southern town through the eyes of a group of teens from very different circumstances. As they uncover their community’s terrifying secrets, Kaur’s writing brings the story to life. And nowhere is that more true than with the cicadas, which practically become their own character. If you’ve ever experienced cicadas, you already know they try to act like the main character IRL. So hearing them outside while reading made the story feel all the more haunting and alive for me.
There’s a multi-narrator cast if you listen on audiobook, and I actually enjoyed listening more than I did reading. With eerie undertones and a story that lingers after the final page, When Devils Sing is a compelling and haunting read that brings Southern, small town complexity and superstitions into sharp, thoughtful focus.
There’s a multi-narrator cast if you listen on audiobook, and I actually enjoyed listening more than I did reading. With eerie undertones and a story that lingers after the final page, When Devils Sing is a compelling and haunting read that brings Southern, small town complexity and superstitions into sharp, thoughtful focus.
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
