Title: Your Blood, My Bones
Author: Kelly Andrew
Page Count: 368 pages
Time Length: N/A
Dates Read: 3/18-3/22
Format:E-book
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: This is an Arc supplied from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

After 5 years, Wyatt returns to her childhood home upon her father's death. She plans to set it all aflame, but the memories and secrets she discovers make her do the one thing she dreaded the most. She has to be the keeper of Wallow Heath.

Pedyr is an immortal who dies repeatedly for Wallow Heath. Until one day, Pexyr has a choice to make. He is what the world and people have made him.

I like Wyatts' character right from the beginning. Her younger self is inquisitive and strong-willed. Her older self is independent and uses logic. Pedyr makes you hate and love him all at once.

The story twists so many secrets in. It's keeps you wanting to read more and more to get the answers. Right until the end I liked this book!

This will be a reread for me.




Quote: "“Your blood,” he said wryly. “My bones. That’s what it takes to keep the dark at bay."

Thank you, NetGalley and Scholastic Press, for my free digital copy for review.

Is the text using a consistent tense, correct grammar, and punctuation: Set in an isolated farmland surrounded by woodland, "Your Blood, My Bone" presents an atmospheric world that harbors the stuff of nightmares. The narrative effectively evokes a sense of unease as mysterious creatures emerge to intensify the sense of dread.

The main character, Wyatt, initially appears fragile and emotional but evolves to find strength in uncovering long-held secrets. Her unique love for Peter and James, each distinctive in their way, positions her as a compelling hero.

Peter, an immortal with a brooding nature, carries the burden of numerous long-held secrets, creating an internal struggle as he grapples with the desire to return home while contemplating sacrificing his love to the devil.

James adds humor to the narrative while contributing an additional layer of mystery. Despite their disparities, the characters share a common need for acknowledgment and a love for family. Their interconnected dynamics, spanning past and present, form the essence of the story.

In summary, "Your Blood, My Bone" is a raw exploration of the unknown, delving into traditions, secrets, and themes of friendship and the concept of home.

The way Kelly Andrew builds a world and creates beautiful, emotionally driven, raw characters, will forever be my guiding light in all her stories. Your Blood My Bones has all the makings of a fairytale with the bitter sweet weight of responsibility. I can’t remember the last time I felt so deeply reading a book, I can’t wait for everyone to share in Wyatt, Peter, and James’ story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kelly Andrew for this ARC.

This is my first book from the author Kelly Andrew and this will definitely not be my last. This book was beautifully, well written. I was hooked from the very beginning.
The genre is a Romance, Fantasy, Horror with creatures and darkness..

I got emotionally connected to Wyatt, Pedyr and James. They were the 3 best friends that spent summers on the farm and became family to each other. Wyatt was the witch that didn't know how to control her emotions and control the earth on how she felt. Pedyr was the Sacrifice for a family that didn't deserve him and James was the spy that he was anything but.

The relationship that was built and destroyed all throughout the book was beautiful to watch. My heart broke from when Wyatt had a chance to tell both the boys that she loved them but it was too late. Just because she didn't want to say goodbye.

I was so emotional and crying throughout the second half of the book. I knew the inevitable, and somehow I was trying to change the ending. I knew it had to come full circle and him getting the choice to choose what Pedyr wanted.

The one thing I'm still reeling about is if James took the immorality deal or not. The spewing the darkness into the dark ibis made me think not, but his wound healed way too fast and made me think he did and he isn't controlled by the Beast anymore.

I truly enjoyed this book and I'll be thinking about it for awhile.

Thank you Netgalley, Kelly Andrew, and Scholastic for this Arc, in exchange for an honest review.

This book was different than what I normally read but I enjoyed the story. The plot kept me intrigued and I finished the book rather quickly. The ending was the only part that I didn't enjoy. I felt like I was left with more questions than answers and I didn't understand the actions of some of the characters. I would've like more background on the fmc's family members. It felt like their parts at the end were a bit rushed. Overall it was a good story and I'd recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of Your Blood, My Bones.

Your Blood, My Bones follows two young individuals who find each other after years apart at their old childhood stomping grounds. Quickly, the FMC realizes the MMC isn't who she thought he was. The plot centers on the FMC coming to terms with this change in their relationship and choosing how to move forward.

The story covers dark subject matter pertaining to mental health and strict religious practices. Also be aware, there is a horror aspect to the story. There are moments of gore that some could find triggering.

All this being said, I had an enjoyable reading experience. I particularly enjoyed the author diving into the darker themes presented. The exploration of environmental horror made what the characters were going through seem more relatable. I could feel how powerless the main characters were and found myself analyzing how they would resolve the situation.

The story also includes a dual timeline and POV. Switching POV, every other chapter. There are many secrets and revelations in the story that are revealed sparsely. As a reader, you learn the circumstances of everything that is happening along with the main characters. This increased the intrigue for me, especially at the beginning of the book.

I think this was a pleasing depiction of horror and YA fantasy. The ending too, made me appreciate the development of the main characters.

Your Blood, My Bones
by Kelly Andrew
YA Horror Urban
NetGalley ARC
Scholastic
Pub Date: Apr. 2 2024
Ages: 16+

Inheriting the farmstead after her father dies, Wyatt Westlock goes back to the farmhouse to burn it down. Even though she vowed not to, childhood memories draw her inside, and in the basement, tied in chains hangs her childhood best friend, Peter.

Not believing his luck, Peter is both shocked and relieved to see Wyatt, because her death will release him from the semi-immortal life he's been suffering at the hands of her family over the years as they ritually kill him in different ways to appease the monster that lurks in the woods.


The story opening with Wyatt standing outside the farmhouse with a jug of gas immediately grabbed my attention, and I could relate to the draw of wanting to explore her childhood home one last time, but sadly there's no explanation as to why she hated the house so much. Sure there are hints here and there, but nothing in the entire book gives a concrete reason why she wants to burn it down. If the only reason was because of (spoiler), it is lame, because she was old enough to run away.

But finding Peter hanging in the basement didn't seem as if it shocked her that much. I would be freaking out if I found my childhood best friend hanging in my dad's basement, trying a little harder to free them. Stuff like this created a MC who was an immature child instead of an eighteen-year-old young woman. Worse, the author got in over their heads by giving Wyatt a magic too complex for them to explain in the story. Even finishing the book I still don't know how the girl's magic works.

And with the major foreshadowing, I had the story figured out within the first quarter, so it wasn't surprising when things happened and that made for a boring read.

Descriptions were great, but sometimes there was rambling that didn't really have much to do with the story, other than introduce a character or two that had no other reason to be there. And some of the characters' backstories weren't flushed out (having two names; I get why one did but not another) and that created inconsistencies with the characters' personalities. Plus there were side plots that were started but not finished.

This could be a really good story if the writing is tightened up: Condinse or remove the unnecessary rambling/side plots and explain the magic system, both Wyatt's, Peter's, James', and the wood's, along with the creatures who live there. And what happened to the spider?

Creative, but didn't reach the level it could have.

2 Stars

Thank you NetGalley and Scholastic Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wyatt Westlock has inherited her childhood home in rural Maine, and though she is not entirely sure why she and her mother moved to Massachusetts, she is there with one purpose: to burn it to the ground. Except she finds her childhood friend, Peter, in the basement and accidentally discovers the secret cult that demands Peter’s ritualistic sacrifice to keep the creatures lurking in the forest at bay. And also: Peter wants to kill her.

I love Kelly Andrew’s writing so much, and I loved that Your Blood, My Bones really leaned into the fantasy horror space. For me, this was an easy read that was engaging and scratched brain itches I didn’t know I had. I thought this was atmospheric (it’s unsettling!!!) and I was very invested in the tension between Wyatt and Peter (and later, James) and the race against time to deal with the maw of hell in the forest. There was a lovely creeping sense of dread throughout the novel and the directions that Andrew took were interesting. I loved the characters and I do think this delivers on the promise of “we went into the forest and came back wrong,” which is a delight for me. The horror aspects of this were great for me, though I don’t think they’re so overt that people who steer clear of horror should avoid this one. As for the romance aspect, there is a slow burn friends to enemies(?) to ??? romance element, but I wouldn’t call it genre romance at all.

I am also a sucker for immortality and especially the costs of immortality, and so a lot of what was happening here was catnip for me. So you’ve got an immortal with a horrific past? Childhood friends who are probably unhealthily obsessed with each other? A creepy, murderous forest? Trapped in a decaying house??? Perfect, to me, and Kelly Andrew does vibes so well. Still, I do think that this will be harder to get into for people more inclined to straightforward prose and storytelling, or people who want a clear understanding of how magic works (or people who don’t like character driven stories). I didn’t mind that a lot of the magic and overall supernatural here was more hand-wavy in explanation, but I have never been one who cares very strongly about these sorts of things.

In any case, this was such a treat for me. Though there are definitely some nitpicks to have, I wasn’t really bothered by anything and the ending was delicious and satisfying in a horror/dark fantasy way, which is really all I could’ve asked for.

Your Blood, My Bones takes place on an isolated farm on the border of a sinister forest in Maine. Wyatt's mother took her and ran off to get her away from a weird cult her father was running. When he dies, she returns to the abandoned farm to burn it down. But on a final investigation, she finds her old friend, Peter, chained up in the basement and learns the true nature of what her father was doing. Now the forest is trying to get in, strange creatures are knocking at her door, and there's some form of beast in the forest who wants her dead. On top of this, her other old friend, James, keeps calling her - on a disconnected phone that shouldn't be ringing. If Wyatt can't figure out a way to raise the wards on the land and defeat the beast, the forest will swallow her and everything she loves whole.

This book was heavy on the horror elements and a lot of darkness. I don't think I was the intended readership for this as, reading the description, I thought it was going to be about a former cult, more of a psychological thriller type thing and less horror. I'm not normally into the supernatural horror books. Other than that, I noticed the author sometimes appears to make up words that don't exist, and I don't think she properly understands certain others. For example, she refers to certain creatures as "cryptids". Cryptids by definition are animals and creatures that haven't been proven by science. The creatures she affixes this label to in her book are not any known cryptids, and instead sound like fairy tale monsters. These factors combined are why I'm giving this book a lower rating. I don't think I'd recommend this book, or re-read it, but I know there are people out there who enjoy this sort of book that will be very enthusiastic about it. Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic Press for the advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review, and all views and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

A lush, dark horror-fantasy about eternal bonds, fate, and the darkness inside of us. This dual-point-of-view book is perfect for fans of beautiful, haunting prose. horror, and romance.

Wyatt Westlock has inherited her childhood farmhouse in Maine. She intends to burn it down, channeling her grief at a mysterious past incident into its conflagration, but her plans change when she finds Peter, her former best friend, strung up in change and abandoned. Peter is semi-immortal, and has died many ritualistic deaths on her family's farm, which serves as a barrier between the sinister magical realm and the one she's always known. The only way that Peter can be free of this vicious cycle is if he kills Wyatt, the last living Westlock. Dark magical beasts and creatures are breaking through the fraying wards. Wyatt's only hope to repair them is to work with Peter, but how can she trust him when he has promise to destroy her? When the past returns to haunt them both, they are forced to put aside their oaths of destruction if they hope to survive.

This is a fantastically well-written book. Give to patient YA readers who enjoy character-based stories and horror.

This was such a gut-wrenching and yet utterly enthralling experience. The prose was very beautiful with lots of memorable lines, and it served to create a creepy cottage-core atmosphere.

The three main characters, Wyatt, James, and Peter are all captivating characters with a complex history with one another. Each of them had suffered in different ways because of the cult and because of this their relationships are often strained and they are put at odds with one another despite their shared friendship in the past. I loved the way the novel navigated through these relationships and the conflicted feelings of the characters—I could understand why each of them felt and acted the way they did and put myself into their shoes. It was really heartwarming to see how drawn they were to each other despite the pains that they suffered

The pacing of the novel was perfect. I was never once bored, and I liked how the history of the characters was slowly uncovered and as we learned more about the time they all spent together in the farm and the bonds they formed with one another.

The plot I’d say was less strong, but this is mostly a character-driven novel so it didn’t really matter, and the characters were all distinctive and very fleshed out.

The writing was also very effective in conveying strong feelings like longing, nostalgia, grief, and moving on. Everything was really beautiful and heavy hitting.

Idk what else to say except that this book was great and I highly recommend it, especially to fans of horror/dark fantasy romance.

I wanted so badly to love this one. I read the premise and it sounded like something I would devour, so I quickly requested an arc. Maybe I went in with too high of expectations seeing all of the other 5 star reviews from early readers, but I just couldn't get into it. I was confused for the whole part of it that I read, and not in the good way where it's suspenseful and makes you want to keep reading and find out what happens. Rather it was a way that I just felt stupid. And honestly maybe I am because everybody else seems to be loving this! I hope that when it releases it finds its readers and grows a fanbase, because I know that its readers are out there. That's just not for me unfortunately.

Wyatt returns to her childhood home ready to raze it to the ground. She has never understood why she was sent away from everything and everyone she loved in the first place. As she ventures through the hallways, memories assail her of her childhood filled with two boys; her best friends. Wyatt stumbles into the darkness that she always sensed, but never could figure out.

So begins a book where the reader is drawn into the story knowing only as much as Wyatt about the things that are happening around her. It is like watching a car wreck or emergency surgery. The reader can't look away. Instead they are drawn further into this dark, bloody world where the rules are unknown and enemies are everywhere. The plot lags in parts, but the characters and they mystery of what actually is going on keeps enticing the reader to hold their breath until the end.

This was something unique to the books that I’ve read recently. There isn’t a lot of YA cosmic horror out there, and Kelly Andrew nailed it. This book is beautifully written with a magically developed landscape and tense relationships. I was fully immersed in this book.

What I Liked:
I loved that the spelling of Peter’s name is different based on who’s perspective we’re in. It’s such a clever way to reveal that there’s a difference in the information each character has.
I loved the emotional roller coaster that Wyatt is on. I found myself often forgetting that these are young people, until we get to these moments where they clash and bicker with each other in a ‘not quite developed’ way.

What I Didn’t Like:
There was one element that I wish was delved into a bit more. I won’t go into detail because it’s a huge spoiler, but I wish we had time to develop some feelings on it for just a little while longer.

This book has such VIBES wow. Summary—Wyatt returns to her childhood home intent on burning it down, but she finds one of her childhood best friends imprisoned in the basement. What follows is very eldritch and the culmination of years of her father’s cult ritually sacrificing this immortal boy over and over again. I love how the layers of this story peeled free one by one, unearthing such emotional depth. My favorite thing BY FAR is the writing. It’s so achingly beautiful—prime word choice, such imagery, I love it—and just an overall pleasure to read. Even if I wasn’t into the story, I would have loved the writing. And the story really pulled at the heartstrings. I loved the friendship between Wyatt and Peter and James, and how it was given just as much importance as the romance between Wyatt and Peter. I found myself wanting to understand the magic and worldbuilding a little more, just to grasp the rules of the magic system better, but I did get a sense of being right there with the characters who didn’t really have a good idea of what was going on haha. The amount of plants in this book, and such a plethora of descriptive plant names!! I love plant magic, and this book has that combined with death magic and a disgruntled goat, so I’d highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for sharing the ARC with me in exchange for my honest review!!

Omg, I don’t even know where to begin with this one. I knew almost nothing about the story prior to reading the ARC, all I knew was that Kelly wrote it so I had to read it. I fell in love with the author's writing when I picked up The Whispering Dark on a whim earlier this year. Kelly Andrew’s writing style is so so unique. She cultivates such vivid imagery and atmosphere and stylistically reminds me of Ava Reid or Alix E. Harrow’s writing style. I always feel like I’m right there with the characters and experiencing what they’re feeling. This book was no exception and such an immersive experience (I could really smell the rot, iykyk).

Now moving on to my favorite part, the characters! Again, Kelly is able to draw out tension like no other. The pining, the yearning, the angst, the secrets, I will never recover. Wyatt is such an easy character to root for. You really feel for her as she’s thrust into this world she just wants to move on from. And Peter, don’t even get me started. Kelly needs to pay for my therapy bills now because what did he ever do to deserve this. The development of their relationship is everything to me like childhood friends to enemies to lovers? Say less. I also enjoyed James' character arc and how everything wrapped up at the end.

The plot was also gripping and the way I was trying to figure everything out, I was stressed omg. The author does such an excellent job at giving you bits and pieces, but not revealing too much. I really enjoyed how everything was revealed (like Peter’s and Willow Heath's backstory). The ending had me screaming crying throwing up. I felt so gutted and it was such a visceral experience. You could really feel the strength of the bond and the history between these three characters. I would’ve liked to have seen some more of Peter’s backstory and I think there were some parts in the first half that felt a bit repetitive, but I still really enjoyed my reading experience.

4.25 - Will definitely keep an eye out for anything Kelly writes in the future because she has such a distinct voice! Your Blood, My Bones releases on April 2, 2024. Happy reading!!

I really enjoyed this urban fantasy/love story. It’s not my normal read, but it was super interesting from the very beginning. The author knocked it outta the park.

I’ll definitely read more from this author in the future!

This was my first Kelly Andrew book, and I LOVED it. From the moment Wyatt showed up at her childhood home with gasoline and a very clear intention, I was hooked. It was haunting in all the right ways, and I loved both the present happenings and the use of flashbacks to show her relationships with Peter and Jamie. Secrets and lies upon more secrets and lies are unfurled as Wyatt attempts to fight fate. I shivered, I cried, I laughed, cried some more, and have zero regrets. I need to read more Kelly Andrew....

Thank you so much to Kelly for sending me an early copy of this book! All my opinions are my own!

Where does someone begin to describe a masterpiece?? How do you begin to convey the breadth of emotion such a work makes you feel? How can a book have such eldritch horrors and yet touch the depths of your heart and soul?

Wyatt is immediately such a strong female character to absolutely root (hehe no pun intended) for and also someone whose mysterious past leaves you both curious and infuriated. It's like she's constantly coming into the world like a hurricane, and I feel like I can relate to Peter that way. She bursts in, turns your life upside down, and leaves you rather happier for it, even through the pain.

This is a book that's perfect in so many ways. Perfectly paced. Perfectly set in a creepy farmhouse in the middle of creepy woods with a creepy chapel. Perfectly cast with characters so infuriating you can't help but love them. Perfectly balanced with the real world and the mystical. Perfectly tied up at the end (even if I wanna scream like Wyatt now).

Please don't ask me to talk about the romance. I am unsure that I will ever recover. That's all I shall say.

If you're looking for a book to play with your mind, play with your fears, and leave your emotions unsure which way to swing, please pick this up. You will not regret it in the slightest.

Your Blood, My Bones is a striking urban fantasy in which Wyatt Westlock encounters an ancient force in the land of her family's old farmhouse. I thought this premise was unique, but it was a slow read for me. It took me a while to get in the groove of this story, but the ending paid off. I believe this book will be well received.

Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for this ARC!