A Southern Gothic supernatural thriller about a girl who can hear bones singing. The best parts of the book was character development, the relationship between Dovie and Lo invested me in the story . The storyline was well done and engaging. And the ending was absolutely chilling.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

This is one of few stories I've read in recent years with a strong FMC who doesn't want to make me pull my hair out from frustration. Sain steers away from the typical "stubborn FMC" trope. While the main character, Dove, is stubborn, she also communicates reasonably well for a teenager and mostly digs her heels in when it comes to magic or the paranormal, which seems pretty reasonable as the lives in the Ozarks—a very old and notoriously haunted mountain range in the US. .

The author drops just enough hints throughout the story to feed your uncertainty about the identity of the Ozark Howler, and I was actually surprised by a couple of the reveals toward the end of the book. The characters are complex, There's darkness, but there's also love. There's grief, but there's also closure. There are curses and magic and things that remind you why we're not scared of the dark itself but the things we can't see within it.

Sain is back at it again with another spooky, gothic, small town YA thriller & I am here for it! I read "Dark & Shallow Lies" when it first debuted years ago & absolutely loved it, so I was very excited to get my hands on her latest novel "When the Bones Sing."

So, my thoughts. I liked how gothic (no one does YA goth like Sain in my opinion) & how angsty & dark & just straight freaking creepy it was (especially with Lo & his "gift"). There were so many secrets that were unraveled & while some were predictable, the reveal of all of them were satisfying for me. I will say, I had a difficult time warming up to Dovie. I get that her beliefs-or lack thereof-was a way of coping with past pains but vehemently denying the existence of magic (or anything really) while literally performing magic just made her look really freaking stupid. I also did not like how she tried to impose her lack of beliefs on others just because her own traumas wouldn't allow for it. That being said, I did like her for the most part & I loved loved loved her friendship with Lo. Overall, pretty good read. Not as good as "Dark & Shallow Lies" but I don't think much can top that masterpiece.

Thank you Netgalley & Penguin Group for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ahh this book!!! Was great, it felt like something straight out of my hometown area minus the murders. But the atmosphere and characters, the mystery and magic combined as perfect. Thank you so much to Net Galley and Penguin for this e-arc and the chance to read this amazing book!

This one just couldn't catch my attention. I think it just wasn't for me because I couldn't quite put my finger on what wasn't dragging me in. The mystery wasn't a forefront as I wanted, I was not vibing with any of the characters, and I just didn't have a pull to finish or find out what happened. I also didn't love how exaggerated the accents were written. I'm Southern myself with a thick accent but sometimes it's just distracting in reading. I chose to DNF this one.

The writing in this story was phenomenal! Gothic and magical with such interesting characters, I ate this book up!
I wouldn't labeled as a horror but more of a thriller instead, I did figured out pretty early on who the killer was but it did not take anything away from the ride that it was.

4/5

When the Bones Sing was the best ghost story I have ever read!

The atmosphere held within the pages of this book doesn't just pull you in, but surrounds and encompasses your soul. There were so many twists and big moments. It was creepy in the best of ways. Each character was richly developed. I felt like I was standing right next to the MCs experiencing it all with them.

Honestly, there is not much to dissuade you from reading this book. If you don't like creepy atmospheres or slightly gory murder, then you might want to skip this one. Otherwise, buckle up and dive in to this amazingly delightful thriller.

I love a book with good ambiance, and When the Bones Sing had a surplus of this. So many great literary and prose choices by the author! All of the things I love about mystical realism and thrillers are in this story and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read an ARC! I will be singing this one praise and shouting for readers to pick it up for a long time. Can't wait for more from this author, she is a true talent.

4.25 stars!

This book is truly one-of-a-kind, and its premise captivates you from the very first page. The author excels at crafting rich character development, ensuring that even the side stories feel fully fleshed out and engaging. As I delved into the narrative, my gut instantly became suspicious of who the 'guilty' party might be very early on. My hunch was correct; however, the intricate plot elements and connections that led to the climactic reveal kept me enthralled. The author masterfully weaves in surprising twists that add layers of complexity, skillfully building suspense and creating an atmosphere of doubt. I trust when others read this, they'll find themselves questioning their assumptions and shifting blame onto different characters, making for an exhilarating reading experience.

An interesting premise, and odd town, and people with strange abilities makes this a unique thriller.

All I can say right now is WOW! I haven't read a thriller this good in a long time. This book was definitely dark so if that is something you're not into I would skip it but if you can handle some dark themes then hurry up and buy this immediately!! Sain's writing was so atmospheric and I loved the paranormal aspects of this book. There were a few predictable parts but overall I had no idea what was going to happen next and I loved the wild ride. This was an easy 5 stars for me and now I'll be looking into Sain's backlist.

Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam Press for the chance to read this early in exchange of an honest review.

Wow….

That’s all I truly want to say about this book because just wow. This one was a masterpiece. Dovie and Lo are the definition of infinity and beauty. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book that encapsulates yearning, grief, horror, myth and true, unconditional love in such a gorgeous way. This one keeps you guessing and wondering what is and is not true all the way to the final page. Wow… this was one hell of a ride and a damn good read.
5/5 stars

✨ARC Review✨

Wow. I freakin’ love this book. Fantastic story.

Dove Warner is seventeen and has been called to find human bones since she was four-years-old. She has the same gift (but don’t tell her it’s a gift) that her mother and grandmother before her has. They say bones sing to the women and lead them to their resting place.
This is a particularly valuable skill in her tiny Ozark town where hikers frequently vanish off the Aux-Arc Trail.

Her best friend, Lowan Wilder, has had Ozark mountain witchcraft passed down to him from his grandmother, Granny Pearl. Not only that, but he sees spirits or shadows. He took off two months ago, but now he’s back. He couldn’t outrun the ghosts. He’s back and asking Dove for help to figure out who is killing these hikers. And Dove loves him more than anything, sees he’s fading fast, and agrees to help.

Y’all. This story is fast-paced (my heart was racing in the face ball 20%), well-written, and just wonderful. I can’t express to you the depth of love that I have for magical realism and this author delivered beautifully. Her Southern turns of phrase, the mountain lore, the mystery. Ahhh! Prepare yourselves. I’m going to talk about this book a lot.

Highly recommended! Especially if you love magical realism, ghosts, storytelling, and the American South.

I received this eARC via #netgalley and @PenguinTeen. All thoughts are mine alone.

#yamystery #yabooks #youngadultbooks #booksbooksbooks #bookrecs #bookreview #whenthebonessing #ginnymyerssain #bookstagram

Rating: 1.5

I really liked Dark and Shallow lies, so I was looking forward to this one. But it was shockingly terrible. The premise was really the only good thing about it. The main character had the ability to find dead bodies, but for some reason still didn't believe in magic or anything spiritual. And her friend could see ghosts, but she didn't believe him, to the point where it felt like she was being condescending about it. And, for some reason, a love triangle popped up at around 70% into the story. With a guy who was supposed to be there because he wanted to find out what happened to his brother. But it seemed like he was mostly focused on obsessing over the main character. Everything about this book was ridiculous.

This is a southern gothic type of book. I enjoyed Dovie and Lo that no matter what happened to them they stuck together. 🥰😍 As the plot progresses you see that their current situation is because of past events. 🧐🤔 This author’s writing style is unique, and somethings may appear one thing but are another. 🤯😲 There are melancholy and old town myths. 👻💀 It was interesting to read how Dovie can hear the bones of those that have passed. 👍📖 I enjoyed it. Seventeen-year-old Dove Warner hears the songs of the dead, a deep hum guiding her to bodies. It's handy in Lucifer's Creek, where the sheriff uses her to find hikers. Locals don't care about the rising death toll, except Dove's friend Lowan, who thinks he's haunted. 😨😰 Dove's a skeptic, but Lowan's scared, and thinks stopping the killings will help. Folk magic, a family curse, and a cryptid make this Ozark story creepy. The mystery's twisty, like the creek, with a chilling end. 😱 #Mystery #Thriller #Ozark #Horror #Cryptid #Suspense #Family #Secrets 🎉🎊

Ginny Myers Sain is an author I adore and I will forever read anything she writes! She always has such wonderful and spooky worlds with mysterious and interesting characters and this was no different for When the Bones Sing! I absolutely adored the idea of the bones singing and holding secrets and it was a unique concept I have never read before! When the Bones Sing was a beautiful and haunting southern gothic. I think my only complaint was how heavy it was on family aspects and emotions and I would have liked more spooky but it was still a great read!

3.5 ⭐️ Southern gothic supernatural thrillers are definitely my go to type of reads, so I was super excited to be approved to read an arc of this book! I personally would not say the label of horror fits at all though which was a bit of a bummer, but overall the story was good. The premise sounded right up my alley (haha) and it started off strong.

This one ended up being pretty predictable and after a little bit it felt more YA romance family drama heavy which is my only complaint. I read a lot of thrillers and it may not work for people who do read a lot of thrillers and can easily guess things but again the premise was great and you add a murder mystery into it? I was totally on board even if it was predictable and a tad slow. I never wanted to put it down, I wanted to know what would happen.

I recommend for sure, it wrapped up well with all my questions answered. Thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review 🖤

When the Bones Sing has a great premise and a good main character. Dovie is stubborn and tough and has weathered a number of tragedies. In any other kind of novel, one might call it an absurd amount of tragedy, but it's a gothic horror, so I'll take it. I liked the odd little town, and its odd inhabitance, although the Sheriff's easy acceptance of Dove and her unlikely skill, as well as the vast number of dead bodies in town does stretch credibility some. It was a fun read.

3.5 stars
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Ginny Myers Sain writes a wonderful tale that blurs fiction with reality in this YA horror novel. Covering friendship to family ties, this book was wonderful, but missed the full mark for me.

The plot of this one was really interesting. I loved the magic system and how it played into the reality of the world it describes. Sain does a really good job of covering the magic, while setting it against the reality of Arkansas. The downfall for me was I guessed the villain quite early on. There were a lot of context clues, despite the authors attempt to throw the reader off track. It made me lose interest about halfway into the book and I struggled to watch it play out.

I enjoyed the characters, but they didn’t stand out to me. While well written, I just wasn’t vested in them. Dove’s struggle with losing her mom was well highlighted, but over explained and focused on. I know it’s an important aspect of who she is as a character, but it was too much. Lowan was interesting and complex, but too complex at times? I wish we had gotten more of him, maybe a dual POV. Xander didn’t add much to the story at all for me. He could have been left out and the plot would have still carried on.

While I enjoyed the book, I just wouldn’t read it again.

When the Bones Sing by Ginny Myers Sain has created a gripping and well-written YA mystery/thriller, and I loved it.
It is very atmospheric, compelling and do intriguing.
A contemporary YA novel that blends fantasy with mystery.
The characters are so incredibly unique and so very real.
I had the best time reading this story.

Everything I've read by Ginny Meyers Sain has me invested in the characters and plot and brings the folk horror vibes perfectly every time.
In When The Bones Sing I felt like I was in the story with Dovie and Lo as they try and figure out what is happening to the hikers and if they can stop it.
The story is haunting and emotional, and I love the relationship between Dovie and Lo and their relationship with the land itself. I was hooked from the first page and couldn't put it down until I reached the end.