Review - When Devils Sing by Xan Kaur
Release Date - May 27

This book sounded so good based on the synopsis and I was so stoked to have gotten an early copy. The plot/premise sounded right up my alley.
I think the story itself was great, but the execution was a tad murky due to the many different characters and POVs. And I think, to be honest, if you’re looking for a Deep South sort of cult-y horror vibe, Midnight is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead was more my thing than this book was, unfortunately.
I still recommend this to fans of horror and the overall story was great, I just wish it was a little more fleshed out with less POVs. I would like this to be a movie, though.
Definitely recommend to fans of horror and mystery!
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a very well written debut. Diverse characters, descriptive writing, and a very well done southern gothic setting. However I found myself really struggling to stay involved in the story because there were SO many characters and we did a deep dive into some (Neera) but just scratched the surface on others (Dawson). If you’re looking for a creepy, gory southern gothic to start your summer this may be the read for you!

Take Outer Banks, Panic, Sinners, and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, throw them all in a blender and you get this book.

Every thirteen years, the small town of Carrion is visited by a screeching hoard of cicadas. While the town celebrates their arrival with special competitions and events, people inexplicably go missing, assumed to have drowned in Lake Clearwater during the festivities. But when local, Dawson Sumter, disappears a week before the cicadas, four teens find themselves digging into his secretive life and the history of their town.

I requested the ARC for this book after seeing the author’s posts about it on TikTok, and I am so glad that her videos popped up on my feed because I absolutely loved this book! I was immediately hooked from the description alone, but the story itself wholly exceeded any and all expectations I had going in.

The setting was so incredibly well written—it was lush and atmospheric and truly immersed me in the Deep South. I appreciated that the main cast of characters was diverse without seeming like an explicit attempt at gaining diversity points; it felt very natural for the story and setting.

I honestly cannot think of anything to say that would express how deeply I enjoyed and loved this story. I stared at the wall in shock and awe after finishing that last page and I have not stopped thinking about this book since. It’s like it has been imprinted in my brain and will just continue to live there forever. I am not someone who often has a desire to reread a book, but I think I will be picking this one up multiple times because it fed something inside me in a way nothing quite has before.

I can already confidently say that this is my book of the summer. It is a must read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan for this e-ARC.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I honestly had no idea it was a debut novel, it was so well done & developed, I was thoroughly impressed! The dark & atmospheric environment our main characters are in feels too real (and uncomfortable) that the reader is fully emersed in the story from the start of the first page. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads for release.

“There are people in this world whose power exceeds our wildest imaginations. People with money and influence that make them virtually untouchable.”
A well-written, compelling novel and a great debut from Xan Kaur! The concept of the book is very unique and an incredibly relevant commentary on how many of the rich and powerful stay rich and powerful by stepping on - or in this case sacrificing - the little man. Truly no better to setting to tell this story than the rural American south. She also did great character work in this book. All 4 narrators were well fleshed out with realistic and understandable motives driving their arcs through the story.
I’m fairly new to reading horror, but i do feel this is more of a supernatural thriller / mystery / suspense than a horror novel. I was expecting the story to be a little darker / have more horror elements. That could be a pro for you if you’re not keen on full-blown horror but if you’re looking for a true horror novel I’m not sure this one is it for you!
While all four POVs were necessary i think the pacing of the book suffered a bit because of them. The pace would pick up with one characters POV then immediately drop with the next chapter. The first 65% of the book felt a little slow at times because of this. That being said, I also think the quick ending could’ve benefitted from a little bit of falling action instead of just going right into an epilogue.
Still a very enjoyable read and an impressive debut! Looking forward to see what else Xan writes in the future.
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group / Henry Holt and Co & Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

When Devils Sing is a gripping Southern Gothic horror that weaves small-town decay, class tension, and eerie folklore into a chilling mystery. The atmospheric setting of Carrion, Georgia, where cicadas scream every thirteen years and the past refuses to stay buried, perfectly amplifies the unease that pulses through the story. Neera and her unlikely group of allies are compelling, each carrying their own secrets as they unravel the twisted truth behind Dawson’s disappearance. The tension builds steadily, blending true crime vibes with supernatural horror, though a few plot threads felt slightly underdeveloped by the end. Still, this haunting tale of corruption, legacy, and survival sinks its claws in deep and doesn’t let go.

WHEN DEVILS SING is a solid debut. I'm a sucker for anything Southern Gothic and Faustian bargain, so those elements hooked me. I thought the four POVs was ambitious and sacrificed character depth, but I also acknowledge that reading the story from the four characters' perspectives was rather integral. This is the kind of book that I would have gone feral for as a teenager, so I hope it finds its audience and I would definitely read more from Xan Kaur!

"you were born in carrion, which means you're one toe closer to hell than everyone else."

thank you macmillan and netgalley for the arc!

though i'm not from georgia, i am a girl from the south that grew up in a state full of those darkened spaces where the houses aren't close enough to justify the light. when devils sing is a love letter to that land between highways and byways and their streetlamps that flush away the stars, to the people you find there, and all the ways they get sacrificed by the people that don't understand them. it broke my heart, it made me angry, and most of all, it made me homesick (and, really, aren't all of those things often the same?). it's the kind of novel i wished i had when i was a teen and itching to leave appalachia. really, i'm glad i have it now as an adult that <i>did</i> leave and misses it all the time.

kaur's writing is evocative, eerie, and absolutely beautiful. the town she's created feels alarmingly real, and suffocatingly stagnant; it's a place where the people and the sins of those selling them out are like two plants left tangled at the roots in standing water. and the rot is setting in. you can feel the humidity, hear the cicada song that's so constant it becomes television static, and it makes you wanna find a porch to crack this book open on.

just as much as the novel is a message on what people will do to keep their power, it's a lesson in what people will do when the chips are down. pride and desperation can sometimes be synonyms in these regions, and kaur does an amazing job at tackling the experiences of those in the south. despite my issues with the pacing at the end (it felt rushed and abrupt when it ended), i'm sooooo stoked to see what she comes out with next!!

Sam holds onto her little brothers life after a tragic hit and run when she meets a man who promises to save his life for one thing in return- a lie. And who is this man to make such a promise? A devil of course. Well, one of 3 actually.

By page 30, the story was already on a third point of view and third story/plotline. Unless I’m reading short stories, I’m not a fan of such a quick jump around that takes a little to show the connection. So I needed more set up before more point of views were established. So we are also introduced to Neera, who is currently living in a hotel room with her mom, ran by her grandparents but barely getting by; and Reid, privileged, feeling the cowardice in his family line, receiving an unexpected call about a new problem caused by his brother. Lastly, recent high school grad Isaiah, looking to Harvard for his way out but following a mysterious email received of a missing boy. The characters were all likeable, however, opportunities of editing down and tailoring some of the moments. For example, Neera got a little repetitive and felt like she had to expand on her emotions over the same things frequently.

It was too many point of views, as they kept coming early on. Unfortunately with this many point of views, things get repetitive as the author tries to connect their stories and as each character tries to catch up to the progressing storyline. It was about 35% of the way before the story felt a little more connected.

I do think this book will be better for someone else; writing style feels mostly polished and the setting was interestingly done. You could see the author’s influence of crossroads demons and devils in the South, even though it was touched on less than I wanted it too. But the jump around on point of views so much and early on, left me feeling very disjointed with uneven pacing, even when the story really found its footing.

When Devils Sing steps into the realm of Southern Gothic with a young cast navigating old, unsettling secrets. While it’s categorized as YA, the novel’s atmospheric tension and emotional complexity gave it more depth than I expected going in. The setting feels almost like a character itself—the thick heat, the cicada hum, the undercurrent of dread—all of it pulling you into a place where folklore and reality blur.

The story centers on a disappearance, but it’s less about solving a mystery and more about how the past shapes each character. The emotional struggles they carry feel authentic, which grounded the supernatural elements in something relatable. I appreciated that the book didn’t shy away from darker themes and complicated relationships, avoiding the glossiness YA sometimes falls into.

Pacing is deliberate, building suspense steadily rather than rushing to scares or answers. Some moments felt slow, but that slower rhythm helped deepen the atmosphere. The ending tied things up in a way that felt earned, even if I wish a few questions had lingered a bit longer to sit with me.

Overall, When Devils Sing is a strong, evocative read that bridges YA and literary horror, with enough emotional weight and darkness to engage a more mature reader looking for something thoughtful in the genre.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

“What makes a town? Is it the people that live there or the secrets they keep?”

This book was described as Midsommar meets Get Out, so I didn’t need any convincing to give this debut novel a read. Small town horror, big time fun.

My attention was captured at the very beginning when first meeting Sam, one of the female protagonists. The story takes place in Southern Georgia and the descriptions had me feeling the humidity and smelling the trees. I don’t think I’ll ever get over THE scene with Neera’s guitar. Graphic, jaw dropping, and the descriptions were so visceral. Not what I usually see in a debut horror book. Most of the story was a slow burn, but things really picked up during the last quarter. I really enjoyed the exploration of classism and the use of the supernatural to explore this theme.

“Nothing quite conveyed God bless America like sacrificial murder.”

If you remember the Murdaugh trial and throw in a cicada cult you’d get this terrifying book.

It encompassed the feeling of the good ole boys in the south and the atmosphere of rural GA. It was raw and scary and I loved every minute of it

Wow! I wholeheartedly loved this book—truly, deeply, completely!

I have an addiction to Southern tales steeped in town secrets, power politics, and that eerie tension between poverty and wealth. Add in the ominous rising chorus of cicadas, mysterious disappearances, and incarnated forms of cicada, snake, and crow who appear as three devilish brothers tempting townsfolk into dangerous deals—and I’m all in. This story gripped me with its supernatural intrigue, rich Southern gothic atmosphere, and the fate of four outcast teens from broken homes whose lives collide in the most haunting way.

I honestly couldn’t put this book down. I felt such a strong connection to the four main characters—but Neera and Sam especially stood out. They were fierce and brave, maybe even more so than the boys, because they literally stared down their demons. Atta girls! I just wanted to wrap them in a shield and protect them as I read about their struggles and the way their neglectful families failed them.

The story kicks off after a chilling prologue from Secrets of the South, a podcast's Season 4 episode, introducing two divided communities in Southwestern Georgia: affluent Lakeside, and the impoverished, tragedy-ridden Carrion, where strange deaths and disappearances have haunted residents for generations.
We meet Sam, the daughter of Wiley Calhoun—right hand to the powerful Langley family. On the brink of her 18th birthday, she’s kicked out of her home, caught in a hit-and-run with her little brother, who isn’t expected to survive. Stepping out of the hospital for a breath of air, she meets a strange man named Jack who asks her: How far would you go to save your brother’s life?
You can probably guess what Jack really is… especially when he revives the dead.

Poor Sam soon finds herself indebted to someone incredibly dangerous. Her childhood friend Dawson Sumter—who may be entangled in the dark web surrounding the Langley family—is now missing. The last place he was seen? Room 4 of a run-down motel owned by Neera Singh’s grandparents.
Neera, also 18, dreams of becoming a singer and winning the legendary Cicada’s Song contest. In the meantime, she’s stuck scrubbing floors at the motel—until she sees Wiley Calhoun threaten her grandfather over unpaid debts, giving him a deadline of July 4th. Suddenly, Neera realizes her family is in deeper trouble than she ever knew. She starts questioning her beloved Uncle Ajay’s death and decides she must uncover the truth. That means turning to her old friend Isaiah.

Isaiah is the son of a prominent judge, and the secret host of a one-man podcast digging up the town’s buried secrets. Right before Dawson went missing, Isaiah received a cryptic email suggesting Dawson’s life was in danger. Now he’s more determined than ever to investigate—and the deeper he digs, the more tangled he becomes in the town’s sinister web.

And then there’s Reid Langley. The emotional, outcast son of the feared Langley clan. He witnesses his older brother Jonah flee the scene of the accident that nearly killed the Calhoun siblings. Reid is friends with Dawson too—and he begins to suspect that something evil is coursing through the veins of this town. Every 13 years, 13 people mysteriously vanish from the Carrion side of town, while the Lakeside community thrives.
Are the old legends true—devils in disguise roaming among them? Or is something even more dangerous hiding behind Southern charm and wealth?

When the cicadas begin to sing, you better run… unless you’re ready to confront your worst fears.

Overall:
I’m a big fan of Southern horror—especially the works of Grady Hendrix—but this book is even better than some of his recent novels. With its haunting musical thread, rich folklore, and eerie tension, it gave me serious Ryan Coogler’s Sinner vibes (my favorite movie of the year). The character development was stellar, the pacing perfectly crafted, and the plot twists hit hard.
I genuinely didn’t expect to enjoy it this much—but without question, this is my favorite Southern horror/fantasy read of the year.

Xan Kur is now on my auto-approved author list—I can’t wait to devour more of their work!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group / Henry Holt and Co. for providing a digital review copy of this masterpiece in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I couldn’t recommend this book more—add it to your TBR immediately and prepare to read it in one breathless sitting!

Not sure what to think of this one. While I did enjoy the horror aspects of this book, I would really think of this as a mystery/thriller with supernatural horror elements going in vs a full on horror book. A lot of the time is spent uncovering the mystery of the missing boy and twisted secrets from the main cast and their families. I did really enjoy the Georgia setting, you could tell that the author has a love for the south without overly romanticizing it. This book is very slow paced at times, the action didn't pick up for me until halfway and even then it was sporadic. There were some plot threads that I felt were not wrapped up entirely, which could be intentional but it didn't feel as satisfying to me personally. Not badly written, I would love to see this author flourish and write more books. Maybe something faster paced from her may hit differently.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

TW: racism, body horror, animal death/cruelty, abusive parent, suicide (mentioned, briefly described)

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: This book is a prime example of how YA books can still appeal to an adult audience. I loved this book. We get an interesting cast of characters coming from various different backgrounds and cultures all mixed up in a southern towns horrors. I was a little surprised by some of the horror elements particularly at the end, because it's YA. I would say this leans on the new adult/ older YA age range.

If you have heard of the Murdaugh murder case (there are lots of documentaries about it) this reminded me of it in some ways. I live in a rural southern town and Xan Kaur was able to bring the horrors that sometimes exist to life. There is commentary on so many important things, wealth, religion, sexuality, gender, this book did it all so well.

If you have read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, I think you would enjoy this for reasons I can't quite explain here. This is a story I will surely read again. It was heartbreaking, horrifying, and relatable. The writing, plot, storytelling and pacing were all incredible. I have no complaints and that is rare, especially for YA books read as an adult. I have nothing but praise for this and plan to read it again in the future.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

I really enjoyed the storytelling in this YA horror. The atmosphere was rich and unsettling, with a slow build that turned into a full sprint by the end.

The story centers on four teens in a rural Georgia town who come together to uncover the truth behind a local boy’s disappearance. As they dig deeper, they unravel disturbing truths about their community, a dark legend, and a force far more dangerous than they ever expected.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Publishing, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

Now I’m not a horror reader, but this book? Spine chilling. Had me at the edge of my seat. Flipping pages gasping. I came across Xan Kaur last year and her debut book is terriying and also thrilling. It’s a feast for your brain and it keeps you guessing with every chapter. The book centers on Neera a grandaughter of Punjabi immigrants in the American South. I think that’s all I want to share so readers can discover this book on their own and go on the journey.

When I say that this book needs a film or television adaptation, I mean it. Do everything you can this to get your hands on this book.

dnf at 20%. tried listening along with the audiobook after attempting to read both the earc and a physical copy but i think this book simply isn’t for me. however if you are in the mood for a YA southern gothic sapphic mystery, this’ll be right up your alley!!

'When Devils Sing' is great supernatural thriller. Whether it is the cultist behavior of the locals, or making deals with the Devil, Kaur's beautiful imagery never wavers. The novel centers on four teens looking into the disappearance of another friend, which occurs as a strange brood of cicadas erupts from the ground after lying dormant for 13 years. Friendships and loyalty are tested as the search continues. 5 stars.

Rated 4.5 on Storygraph.

According to urban legend, the rural town of Carrion, Georgia was founded on a deal with the devil. The founder sacrificed his wife in order for him and his descendants to prosper. And now, every 13 years when the periodical cicadas emerge from the ground, the rich throw an elaborate celebration for not only the founding of the town, but the insects that were integral to the story. For there isn't just one devil in Georgia, there are three. The cicada, the crow, and the snake.

Neera is the granddaughter of Punjabi immigrants. Her grandparents own a rundown motel in Carrion, far from the American Dream they were promised. Neera dreams of making it big as a musician so she can break free of the generational trauma, loss, and debt. And when she finds out she might have been the last person to see Dawson Sumter before his disappearance, events are set into motion that make Neera more desperate than ever. Between a tangle of lies, mysteries, and devils, Neera and three other teens try to figure out what happened to Dawson.

Sam, the estranged daughter of the town's hitman, who just wants her brother to be safe. Reid, the youngest son of the wealthiest people in town, who never fit in with his power hungry and violent family. And Isaiah, son of a prolific lawyer and secret host of the hit podcast, Secrets of the South.

Together the four of them discover something sinister is about to happen on Lake Clearwater, and they might be the only ones who can stop it.

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As a disclaimer, I don't typically read horror books. I've never really found a horror or thriller story that hit me like it was supposed to. But I am so glad I ventured outside my genre comfort zone and read this book. It was everything I knew a horror is supposed to envoke. I was on the edge of my seat, enthralled, not knowing what was about to transpire.

The book is split into two parts; the first part is a slower-paced introduction to the characters, the town, and the power dynamics that come into play. It starts to ramp up to part two, which is fast-paced, and where the true action of the story happens. While I admit there was some emotional whiplash from the different pacing, I felt that the first part was truly necessary to set the reader up for the main event.

There are four POVs, one for each teen, but Neera is more flushed out than the rest. It makes sense for the story, as she truly is the main character, but I do wish we could have gotten more time with Sam, Reid, and Isaiah.

I thought the plot was so well-done. I didn't know what was coming next, and I loved how Kaur wove four character's lives into one cohesive storyline. At the start of the book each of the characters are far apart from each other, but little by little they are woven together.

Overall, this book oozes gothic Southern summer, and I enjoyed the heck out of it.