thereadingraccoon 's review for:

When Devils Sing by Xan Kaur

3.0

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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When Devils Sing is a young adult horror novel set in a southern town cursed by three devils.

Neera, Sam, Isaiah, and Reid are all connected to another teen, Dawson, who disappeared from their rural town in Georgia. Each of them begins to realize that there’s something deeply wrong with Carrion—and that it’s tied to the cicadas that return every thirteen years. According to local folklore, three devils are making terrible bargains with the townspeople, and these sinister deals may be connected to Dawson’s disappearance.

I chose the audio version of this one because I was especially looking forward to Isaiah’s podcast about the creepy South—I just wish there had been more of it! There were a few plot points I wanted more explanation of, like the bargains, the history of the devils, and the significance of the cicadas’ return. Honestly, I’m not sure I fully grasped everything that was going on, and the conclusion felt a little rushed. That said, I liked the eerie atmosphere and the cast of characters from diverse and challenging backgrounds.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Audiobook narration notes: The audiobook is narrated by Michael Crouch, Anjali Kunapaneni, Jennifer Pickens, and Landon Woodson, who all do an excellent job voicing the youthful characters from varied backgrounds.

Disclosure: Rating based on an advanced listening copy provided by Macmillan Audio. All thoughts and opinions are my own.