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A review by yvo_about_books
Grave Birds by Dana Elmendorf

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

4.5

Finished reading: June 21st 2025


"What if dark times are about to befall our small town? A storm is certainly brewing, and I can't help but feel like hell is coming to Hawthorne now the devil has come home to roost."

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and MIRA in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***

I had an excellent first experience with Dana Elmendorf's writing last year reading In The Hour Of Crows, which ment that I knew I HAD to add Grave Birds to my shelves as soon as I first heard about it. Then I read the blurb, and I became even more excited to read it... I'm always up for a dose of Southern gothic, and the premise of this book sounded SO good with the South Carolina setting, the grave birds and the hint at something supernatural going on in town. And what an absolutely fantastic and expertly crafted story it turned out to be!

Grave Birds is definitely one of those stories where it's best to go in blind and enjoy the journey the plot will take you on. Trust me, you reading experience will only be enhanced when you don't know the details about everything that is going on or just how far the supernatural will reach... Certain plot twists and reveals will work SO much better this way. Grave Birds turned out to be a fascinating mix of genres, blending Southern gothic with supernatural elements, ghosts, family drama, mystery and even a dose of romance. The supernatural also had a bit of a magical realism vibe, and it is what took the story to the next level for me... Although the resulting genre cocktail in general was simply splendid.

Like I said, I don't want to give away too much of the plot to avoid spoilers, but what I can say is that the writing itself was atmospheric, engaging and simply impossible to put down. There is just something about the way that Dana Elmendorf weaves together her stories that makes them irresistible, and she is a fantastic example of everything I love about the Southern gothic genre. I especially loved the whole idea behind the grave birds and the role they played in the plot; like I said before, this part of the story almost had that magical realism feel to it and it's what made the story stand out for me.

It isn't just about the grave birds and ghosts though, but also about the arrival of an outsider to town and the strange things that start happening afterwards. I'm not always fan of a religious angle or the supernatural, but somehow the way both elements are incorporated into the plot simply works here. The fact that you don't know exactly what is going on and if things are really supernatural or just nature taking revenge only enhances the gothic atmosphere... And then you have the multiple mysteries to solve of course, along with a dose of family drama and the budding romance.

We see everything happen through the eyes of Hollis Sutherland, who with her gift turned out to be the perfect character to lead you through this story. The grave bird moments will give you brief flashbacks to the past, and I loved what they added to the plot... The tone of the flashbacks only adding to the whole experience. I enjoyed getting to know Hollis better, and Cain himself is a fascinating character as well of course (mostly because he is so mysterious). Some of the other characters were easier to like than others, but then again this story wouldn't be the same without its villains.

I think it won't come as a surprise when I say that I ended up having a fantastic experience reading Grave Birds, and I won't be surprised if it ends up hanging out on the list of 2025 favorites. If you enjoy well written and atmospheric Southern gothic that blend different genres, I cannot recommend Grave Birds enough! This second book has only put Dana Elmendorf even firmer on my radar, and I already can't wait to see what this author will have in store for us in the future. 
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