This was WILD. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this story in exchange for an honest review. I am currently working through my ARC backlog and will be posting full reviews momentarily for books that have been completed!

Dnf 37 percent. I was just not connecting with the characters at all. Everything kind of felt surface level for me and the plot wasn’t quick enough to make up for my lack of interest in the characters.

This was such a different and unique story and I loved it! I loves how we slowly learned the connection between all of the characters and the story unfolded.

I truly enjoyed this book as a telling of southern folklore and true crime combined. I’m a big fan of both elements and loved to read how Xan Kaur weaved them together in When Devils Sing. Initially, I wasn’t a huge fan of the multiple character perspectives as I find too many can be confusing as a reader to keep track of, but I appreciated that the author did a great job of fleshing out their development, and it became easier to remember who was a part of what as a story went on. Kaur creates the most vivid picture in my mind through the descriptions of characters and setting. Ultimately, I really did enjoy the story, but I felt it was a bit long and drawn out toward the middle up to the climax. I was definitely hooked at the start and just felt that the pacing was a bit slower toward the middle end.
(SPOILERS)
Would have loved to see a bit more about Reid and the survivors in the end or more about Neera‘s path with Grant to Nashville.

All to say is that I will definitely be reading more of this author’s work in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book.

Sadly, this was a DNF for me. I got about 50% in. I really wanted to love this one but it was just so slow and it didn’t feel like a lot was going on. It did have creepy vibes and I did like the writing it just didn’t hold my attention very well. All thoughts and opinions are my own! Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

This was a moody, atmospheric southern gothic with a touch of horror and a creative modern twist. The setting in a rural lake town, with buzzing cicadas and sweltering heat, left a lingering sense of unease. There’s also a clear tension between poverty and privilege that gives the story added depth. The podcast element was one of the most unique parts of the book. It added structure and suspense in a way that felt fresh without being gimmicky.

The story follows four main characters. Their connections are a little confusing at first, but each has a distinct voice and point of view that becomes clearer as the plot moves forward. I appreciated the variety in perspectives, even if the early chapters felt slightly disjointed.

The biggest letdown for me was the ending. It felt rushed, and the “three devils” concept, while still powerful and symbolic, was wrapped up too quickly.

This would be a great pick for readers who enjoy gothic horror with a modern edge, character-driven stories, and a bit of mystery mixed in.

Then you NetGalley & Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC.

Xan Kuar absolutely comes out swinging with her debut novel, When Devils Sing. Pulling from her own time spent living in the rural South, Kuar’s story is a Southern gothic reimagining of the devil at the crossroads that really feels like its grown out of the Georgia soil. This isn’t a story that wears the South as an aesthetic, slapping together characters haphazardly based on vague stereotypes. Kuar intimately knows the flaws and the violence and the ugliness of the part of the country, but she also writes with such care about the beauty of the South and the lives of the marginalized people who call it home.

When Devils Sing is spread across the perspectives of four freshly-graduated teenagers living in and around the town of Carrion. As the summer trudges on, well-buried secrets of the rural town and its wealthy, flourishing lakefront suburb start to bubble to the surface. Each of the four protagonists works to fit together a distinct piece of this puzzle, even if it may require a deal with the devil to do so.

This is not a fast-paced book, nor is it driven primarily by its action and tension. Kuar has crafted a really wonderful coming-of-age story driven by the strength and complexity of its character work. Despite the way that the novel moves between four perspectives, I never felt as if their voices collapsed onto one another—each narrator had a very distinct and memorable voice, and I found myself interested in all of their stories more or less equally.

But because of this, I don’t think that it’s entirely appropriate to market this novel as horror. What it is is a YA coming-of-age, steeped in some of the motifs of the Southern gothic aesthetic, but not necessarily digging deeply into its magical realism or fantastical horror. This is in no way a critique of the book—Kuar has done a really good job of putting words to the page, but the marketing could have been spun a bit differently.

But, my god, if I have a complaint it’s that the ending reads like it belongs to an entirely different book. The shift from the genre and mood of the first 90% of the book into a sort of cult-y, satanic horror in the final chapters just doesn’t work. Too many things are wrapped up far too quickly, and I was ultimately disappointed with the lack of resolution that many of the characters were given, especially since Kuar had taken such time and care to develop them in the first place.

(As a bit of a sidebar, I also have Thoughts and Feelings about Kuar teasing a lesbian relationship for 400 pages and then not really explicitly allowing that to go anywhere. This isn’t a “how dare you not put romance in MY horror novel” complaint, but rather a “why are you including lesbians in your story without ever calling it like it is?” kind of complaint. Hm.)

While I have my complaints about bits and pieces of the novel, it’s overall a really great debut in this genre. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more from Kuar in the years to come, and I will be ready for it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

A southern gothic horror, tackling social issues like racism and classism? Count me in! The writing was fantastic, the characters were interesting and the plot was so intriguing that I wanted to keep reading to know what was going on.

A few words to intrigue you to this book: Sticky, Southern, Gothic, Cicada, Horror, Summer

The minute I started this book, I immediately felt like a big sister over these characters. It was heartbreaking the neglect these characters had from their parents and the traumatic instances they were going through. The multiple POVs did take a bit to get used to, but each character was very multi-dimensional and added insight to the story. I especially enjoyed the cultural aspects of the book and thought it added another layer of depth to the story. I would agree with other reviewers to check trigger warnings if there are ones that are specific to you.

Overall, I think readers who enjoy Southern Gothic themes and horror will enjoy this read.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy of When Devils Sing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of When Devils Sing.

In the era of Sinners, this book felt absolutely necessary. As someone with Southern roots but who’s never actually lived there, I found it incredibly insightful. It’s true—you never really understand how others live until you're immersed in their world.

I especially appreciated the four main characters, each leading distinct lives that somehow intertwined to form a captivating web of secrets, drama, and connection. Their stories pulled me in completely.

This book felt like Sinners, One Tree Hill, and The Hills Have Eyes had a baby—and the result was exceptional. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the plot twists leave you reeling. It kept me on my toes the entire time. The ending leaves the door open for a sequel, but stands strong on its own.

Maybe it’s true what they say: better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Devils Sing is a haunting read with striking imagery that brings every scene to life. From the decaying town of Carrion to the oppressive summer heat and the ever-present cicadas, the setting is so immersive it feels almost tangible. Kaur does an excellent job conveying the characters’ emotions and fears, grounding the supernatural elements in a very human core.

The lore is original and well-crafted, and the book seamlessly blends its dark fantasy elements with real-world issues. As someone who typically doesn’t enjoy young adult fiction, I was impressed by how mature and well-developed the characters were. The writing captures the emotional turbulence of adolescence without the petulance that plagues many YA books.

My only critique is that a few elements of the ending felt slightly underdeveloped. I would have liked more clarity around Neera’s fate, and a deeper exploration of the relationship between the three demonic brothers and how it related to Jack’s bargain with Sam, which felt a bit too conveniently resolved.

Overall, this is a dark and compelling story with a fresh supernatural take and a powerful emotional current running beneath the horror. 3.5 / 5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Xan Kaur's debut novel "When Devils Sing" is a Southern Gothic masterpiece. It's perfect for the summer time. Listening to The Sinner's soundtrack while reading this book was such vibes. The story takes place in a rural Georgia town called Carrion. This is written with multiple povs, so the reader is constantly looking at different perspectives of the story. The characters are intertwined in one way or another. The book gripped me from beginning. It kept me at the edge of my seat until the end. My favorite character was Neera, because her Punjabi culture enriched the story. Her chapters were the ones that stuck out to me the most because they were the most relatable.

"When Devils Sing" is an absolutely amazing book by Xan Kaur that creates a mesmerizing backdrop to explore layered characters and blend classic elements of urban legands with themes of rich v poor. It has very easily become my favorite recommendation for anyone interested in gothic books, especially southern gothic. The horror elements are well executed, and writing as a whole is enjoyable to read. There wasn't anything that felt forced, and truly read like a recounting of events. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are someone who enjoys trying (and failing) to guess the twists hidden throughout a story.

This Southern gothic horror was an amazing read! WOW. Such captivating writing and story line. Clear descriptions of all the characters. They are so well developed, and we get to see their struggles and motivations. Such natural horror throughout the book. Nothing feels forced in any of the dark aspects. Fresh style of writing with a great pace throughout. Elements of rich vs poor, urban legends, secrets and lies. Absolutely immersive and shocking twists and turns throughout.

thank you to NetGalley for allowing me access to the eARC of this book!

When The Devils Sing is a dark and twisty love letter to the American Deep South. this story touches on real issues that are happening in America while giving us a paranormal twist you don’t expect.

the imagery is reminiscent of The Starling House, while the story reminded me of Mexican Gothic. When Devils Sing is still super original and I enjoyed it very much.

the end of this book had my heart rate through the roof. it really kept me guessing. When Devils Sing begs the question: what would you give the Devil to get what you want?

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review!

Southern horror books are always a win for me! There's just something about this sub genre that just works for me. I loved the atmosphere and mystery within this book and have diverse that whole cast was. Every main character's motivations for their actions felt realistic and understandable. Xan did not hold back at all and I loved that.

If I had to pick a favorite, I would have to say it was Neera! I can't wait to get my physical copy to display on my shelves.

Thank you to MacMillan and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Carrion is a small town with big secrets. Neera, Sam, Isaiah and Reid work together to solve their friend’s mysterious disappearance. What they discover is far more sinister than they can imagine.

Looking back on the synopsis, I feel like a huge percentage of the book is focused on other subplots. We never actually meet this missing character in the present timeline, so I honestly forgot about him with everything else going on. It took me awhile to become invested in the story. I also think I’m not enjoying YA as much as I used to. Once the 60% mark hit, everything started coming together and I couldn’t put the story down. I really enjoyed the writing style, the descriptions and how atmospheric it was. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thriller and horror together. I’ll also try another book by this author in the future.

thank you for the arc!
unfortunately i usually like dual POV but this is too many POVs, hard to not get confused with which character’s storyline is who’s because of how they are written.
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When Devils Sing is a well-written debut. Creepy and atmospheric, it drew me into the small town of Carrion and into the lives of the four people who were following.
We have friendships, new and broken, deals with the devil, and a small town where the cicadas come and are revered every 13 years. While I liked all four of the people who were following, I think Sam is my favorite; She is a survivor and has more to lose than the others.
I really enjoyed how the story unfolded and how the group came together to figure out the truth of what was happening in Carrion, and I loved how it ended.
I will defineitly be keeping an eye out for whatever this author writes next!

Gothic and dark. Not a bad read. I do wish this was a bit more detailed, maybe too many main characters/ POVs. Felt like the big twist was missing something. Still not a bad read.