This book is captivating and suspenseful. I really enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the story as the mystery of what/who is killing the hikers comes to light. It was a pleasure getting to know Dovie and the Ozark folklore within this story. I also loved the unique idea of the bones singing. This book tackles grief in such a way that makes it slightly lighter than one might expect.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an advance ebook. All opinions are my own.

3.5/5 stars, rounded down

“A feeling that feels like music.” That’s the way I described it to Nana when I was little. Like all my bones were humming. She nodded and kept wrestling my messy, dark hair into neat braids. “Like somebody’s playin’ a your bones like a flute. That’s the way it used to feel to me and your mama.”

When the Bones Sing is a young-adult paranormal thriller with a supernatural twist by the author of Dark and Shallow Lies,. Like her previous novel, our story is set in a small town in rural America – this time the aptly named Lucifers Creek in the Ozarks – where a series of disappearances has sparked rumors of something supernatural being afoot. We follow 17-year old Dove, blessed or cursed with the ability to physically hear the bones of the deceased. Alongside her best friend Lo, who’s plagued by hauntings of his own, she sets off in search of answers to the local mystery, guided by the singsong of the bones at the root of it.

What I Liked:
With her previous work, the author already showed off her talent of writing highly atmospheric rural towns, and that talent is on display here too. In terms of atmospheric and scenery: this was top-notch from the start. The mystery, mixed with the slight magical/paranormal elements provide an immediate hook and a constant incentive to continue the story. The ending had some problems (some elements felt a little rushed and underdeveloped), but the ride was enjoyable.
Overall, this felt very similar to Dark and Shallow Lies, so it’s an easy recommendation for fans of that book.

What I didn’t Like:
I didn’t have any major gripes with this book, and yet I was left feeling extremely underwhelmed throughout. This felt incredibly similar to the authors previous work, to the point where I felt it was written along the exact same beat-plot, and I felt I was reading a rehash of something I’d already read before. At the end of the day, this is a very middle-of-the-road YA paranormal mystery: it’s great if that’s the thing you’re looking for, but if you’ve already read a bunch, don’t expect this to rock your world.
Obligatory “I’m not the target audience”, as I’m not a 17-year old girl, but I still feel many YA books can translate well to adults. This might not be one of them. I cringed at some of the dialogue, the love-triangle and the all-too-present trope of every adult being an idiot so the teens can step in to save the day. Be aware if these tropes bother you.

Many thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

If you're looking for an atmospheric Southern gothic mystery with a generous helping of the supernatural, add this novel to your TBR immediately.

Despite the Ozark urban legends, old timers' beliefs, and the fact that she can hear the bones of the dead calling to her, Dovie doesn't believe in ghosts or magic. Her ability is just something she inherited from previous generations of women in her family. For the past three years, the sheriff has increasingly requested her help. Over twenty hikers have gone missing from local hiking trails and then turned up dead after Dovie followed the sound of their singing bones. Locals claim it's the Ozarks howler monster. Dovie thinks there's a logical explanation. When her best friend Lo says he's haunted by the ghosts of the dead hikers, she's sympathetic and wants to help him. But she still claims ghosts aren't real.

I've always been drawn to Southern gothic novels, and this author makes it very easy to immerse yourself into the setting - the dripping humidity, iced tea in jars, local superstitions and magic, eccentric characters with a strong sense of family and friendship. I guessed the identity of the culprit early, but there are plenty of red herrings and an atmosphere of doubt that made me wonder if I was correct. You can also expect surprising years old secrets that come to light. Several eerie scenes are sure to thrill paranormal/supernatural fans, and the nail-biter of an ending will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

There was the beginning of a love triangle that never completely played out, to my relief. I'm not a fan of that trope and didn't feel as if it was needed or added anything to the story.

This is the second novel I've read by this author, and I'm now a confirmed fan and will definitely pick up her future releases. Recommended for reader who enjoy mysteries with a strong sense of place, friends to lovers trope, and rich character development.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was gifted a copy of this book from NetGalley and Penguin Group and all following opinions are my own. This mysterious tale had me guessing through the entire book! The author weaves the fascinating Ozark Mountain lore of small towns along with the macabre of humanity at its darkest. For fans of murder mysteries with a touch of lore, this one’s for you!

Started somewhat slower. But really builds. This was such a unique world that was built. It kept me piqued and guessing.

what and intriguing murder story! i was certain i knew exactly where this was going and was SHOCKED when i found out how off i was. i enjoyed the writing and loved the relationship between Dovie and Lo.

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 🎉🎊