Thank you to Henry Holt and Co., Macmillian Children's Publishing Group, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!


When Devils Sing is an examination of the good, the bad, and the grey within the rural South. It portrays the inherent struggle between social/economic classes and within situations some feel powerless to change.

I enjoyed the various perspectives of the four main characters as each one's story is told. Each one brings a different cultural or social background that builds the narrative around the two facets of the town: poor Carrion and affluent Lake Clearwater. The examination of what is good and what is bad is tailored to each character's upbringing and experiences.

The first roughly 70% of the book builds up the mystery of what is happening in the town while the last 30% or so rushes to a conclusion from when the main characters start to finally grasp the pieces of the mystery to solve it.

However, as someone who normally does not often read this genre, I found myself looking forward to finding time to continue reading it.


What I Liked:
- diverse cast of characters who are fleshed out and feel real
- the buildup of the mystery and its revelation
- the world-building of the fictional rural Southern Georgia town
- the examination of character's motives

There was a great slow build to this story and while it did make some of the twists a little easier to predict it also built the tension in the story so well. I appreciated the characters and thought the book did a particularly good job with setting up their different back stories early on, it was really clear why this group had to handle things on their own and couldn't trust anyone. The setting also played really well into this dilemma and overall just fleshed out the conflict so well. Everything came together so well and as things really started moving toward the end, the book became impossible to put down. I really enjoyed this book and found it to be a great blend of a more modern setting while keeping so much of what makes a classic gothic horror.

Thank you Henry Holt & Co. for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review, I appreciate it.

I first heard of this book from the author themselves on Tik Tok. When I see popular books on BookTok, 9/10, I ignore them because 9/10 they aren't that great. However, this time was different. It was a video of the author promoting their own book, describing something creepy and cryptic set in a small southern town. I was intrigued! Thankfully, my spidey-senses were right! This was such good book. It was eerie, gothic, and had some MESSY (in a good way) characters. Towards the end of the book, the big "event" that the book felt like it was leading up to was slightly anti-climactic and mildly disappointing. However, not nearly enough to overshadow the wonderful story laid before us. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

3.75/5

Holly Collins

There is nothing I love more than a good ole southern legend. There is something so old and cryptic about them. And this book was that.
I was impressed with the range that each of the characters had, even in just a small chapter. I was addicted from chapter one and the story only got better. This is a solid debut novel.

This book was truly the most perfect when it comes to Southern gothic vibe!
- Cicadas
- Sticky hot heat
- Dark secrets/small town

When Devils Sing is about 4 teens that go looking into the disappearance of a local boy. However what they find instead is the this town and its people all have dark secrets and that evil truly lurks within this town.

Its dark and eerie and HOW is this a debut novel?! Its phenomenal!

If you want a book with a southern gothic vibe, that's dark and unsettling and gives you messy characters then look more no and add this to your tbr!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an atmospheric YA southern mystery with some horror elements that really keep you guessing what is going on. There were a few things that prevented this from being a 4-star book for me, but for a debut, this book was intricate and well done!

The description of the setting was done so well that you really get that swampy, down by the bayou feeling as you're reading. It did take a little while for the story to get going, but once it did it took off and came together well at the end, but could have benefited from a little bit of a slowdown towards the end as it felt a little rushed. The folklore surrounding the town and the demon were also interesting.

The multiple points of view were done well. The characters all had emotional baggage that they were dealing with, which were woven together in a cohesive manner, so none of the characters felt out of place.

Overall, this was a good read, and I definitely recommend reading it more towards the summer for a good spooky summerween read.

*3.5* I just finished When Devils Sing and wow, what a great debut from Xan Kaur. Cults, music, and folklore are right up my alley of interests so I enjoyed this book. It has mystery, horror, and paints a beautiful yet menacing picture of the rural South. I loved the use of podcast transcripts for exposition and the ensemble of characters. However, I agree with others that the pacing was off. It felt like a slow burn for the majority of the book, but the climax and ending were rushed. I have so many questions. I usually don’t need everything wrapped up perfectly but in the case of this book, I wanted more.

All around though this was a fun read and I’m excited to see what’s next for Kaur.

Amazing story! I love how everything came together with this story and how the characters navigated life in GA and deals with the devil. I wish we could have heard about the third devil, but that’s maybe a tale for another day. Loved the plot and the characters, they made this story as incredible as it was. Can’t wait to read more from this author. Definitely talented and will do great things!

My God this was amazing. The writing really draws you into the story and gives you the feeling that you are in Southern Georgia with the characters. And even though I was able to figure out what was "going on" it didn't take away from the enjoyment of the book. About 1/2 way through the book I decided that I loved it and needed to preorder it.
The only flaw in a near perfect book was the ending. We spent all this time working towards this "event" but once we got there I was wanting more.
However I look forward to not only this release but reading what this author comes out with in the future.

I truly wanted to enjoy this book, but I don’t think I was the right audience.


First and foremost the beginning was a great introduction, but moving to each POV (that was lackluster for me alone), less than appealing attempt at “horror”, and I felt overly bored.

I did truly enjoy the setting, but the pace through almost had me considering to stop reading.

I’m sure this book will find their ideal reader, and I hope the best.. Thank you Macmillan and Netgalley for this ARC.

When Devils Sing is Xan Kaur’s debut novel, but you’d never know it upon reading it. From her unique characters to her engaging plot, this is a strong debut. The use of folklore and urban legends draws the reader in and the fast paced and mysterious plot keeps them captivated. Frankly, this is the first book I’ve been invested in in a while. The story and characters are genuine. The way all of their stories are intertwined is extremely realistic especially when it comes to a small town. Each character’s motivations and hopes and desires are laid out to bare and you can’t help but feel for them. You want to help them figure it all out. You want them to stay safe and still somehow manage to make it to the end with answers. And more than anything, you want to see how this mystery ends. I hold a special place in my heart for tales of folklore and this story now lives there too. Xan Kaur has something special here. Check out When Devils Sing on May 27, 2025. Thank you to Netgalley for early access to this title!

First off, many thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this book as an e-ARC! I greatly appreciate it!

Despite a cool title and a fun concept, this book was just fine. The writing is dry and utilitarian, but it gets the job done. The plot hits the beats you'd expect it to. The characters are all right, not too shallow, but not particularly deep, either. I wanted to dive into a spooky Southern Gothic, but I got a wade instead. Meh. The only thing that really bothered me was the use of In The Pines. While it did fit the story, did the author really need to use the most stereotypical Southern song ever? It was annoyingly on-the-nose.

Three out of five stars for When Devils Sing.

There’s something about When Devils Sing that gets under your skin—not with jump scares or gore (though it’s not shy about blood), but with a creeping dread that grows like mold in a forgotten corner of a room. Xan Kaur’s debut Southern Gothic blends small-town rot, folklore, and generational trauma into a story that feels both timely and ancient.

The setting—Carrion, Georgia—is more than just a backdrop. It's a living, breathing thing, buzzing with the eerie drone of cicadas and stifling with the weight of secrets. Kaur evokes the American South with unsettling precision: decaying motels, lakes hiding things better left undisturbed, and a town divided by wealth and haunted by its own founding myths.

Neera, Isaiah, Reid, and Sam—our unlikely quartet—feel like real teens: messy, flawed, angry, searching. Their dynamics are jagged and imperfect, and that works. Some characters get more development than others, but their interactions give the story emotional weight. I especially appreciated the tension between survival and morality—how each of them carries their own inheritance of silence and guilt.

The mystery of Dawson’s disappearance and the dark forces tied to Lake Clearwater unfold slowly, and while the pacing wobbles in places (a drag in the middle, a bit rushed at the end), the journey is worth it. The folklore element—three devils haunting the town’s history—was compelling, though I would’ve loved more time spent exploring that mythology before the final act wrapped it up a little too neatly.

Still, When Devils Sing stuck with me. It’s not a story that screams—it hums low and steady, like something buried that’s starting to stir.

This book is incredible!!! I was hooked from page one, and I don’t think that was a single dull moment in this book because of the multiple POVS, action and layers of deep secrets. My favorite POV was Neera but Isaiah was a close second. I love the Punjabi culture and Neera’s resilience despite her upbringing is very inspiring. I love how creative and musical she is too because that played such a beautiful part of this book. I currently live in South Carolina so only a state away from Georgia and rural Georgia is definitely both full of history and creepy at times. The southern culture is so vividly described in this book and I loved the gothic vibes in it too. I like that the author added little jabs like mentioning there’s nothing like true love than getting married at a plantation because really it is so weird people do this!! There’s not only breaking through racism but also generational trauma in this book. The action and plot twists really had me frantically flipping the pages and I am going to recommend this to everyone when it comes out!!

SO thankful to netgalley for the arc, because this book is everything I could ever want. A brilliant debut that left me desperate to see what Kaur writes next.

The devil definitely came down to Georgia—and brought with it all the sticky, suffocating, terrifying heat of a great book. The atmosphere is so rich, you can practically feel the humidity on your skin and hear the cicadas buzzing in your ears. .

I absolutely LOVE how well Kaur wrote the four POVs. It was so well done that I was genuinely looking forward to POV switches, which is NOT how I usually feel. We follow four main characters, and somehow, every single one has a distinct, vibrant voice. Each character feels so real, that I truly felt empathy (and in some cases repulsion) for each character. Neera especially wrecked me (in the best way possible) and I really enjoyed her POVs.

It’s honestly wild that this is Kaur’s debut—it’s so masterfully written, I could quite literally feel the atmosphere on every page. I read the entire thing in just two sittings and I just know this is going to blow up! Even if you’re not typically drawn to YA or multi-POV stories, trust me: this one will win you over.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
Let me start by saying, this is not a normal genre for me. But I saw the synopsis and was so intrigued by it I knew I had to read it.

I’m so insanely glad I did.

My goodness this story was amazing! Right off the bat we meet each character and see the depth of their lives and their personalities. Each from different upbringings and struggling with things we all deal with. Disagreements with family, finding out who we are and what truly matters to us. All wrapped up in a mystery set in the south, a story of corruption and greed.

Every thirteen years the cicadas came and begin to scream. There’s a lot of missing people and deaths that happen in this town and this year a group of teens have questions. They piece it together slowly and try to find ways to get to the bottom of what’s happening.

I loved these characters. They were all so raw and real. If it hadn’t been for the horror aspects and the touch of the paranormal it could have been like reading someone’s documentary about corruption in the south.

Sam wanted, more than anything, to be a good big sister and protect her baby brother. Her decisions all revolved around that simple fact and I couldn’t help but relate to her and respect her for it. She had such a tough exterior but so much pain. Her father being a huge source of that pain.

Isaiah I related to the most though. He just wants to follow his own dreams but his father has a plan laid out for him. Success over happiness seems to be what drives him. Understandable but not the right path for every person. I loved how smart and quick witted he was.

Reid was the son of the most important man in their town and that comes with its own set of issues. Especially once the blinders were pulled back and he was forced to see his family for who and what they really are. His actions shocked me, and I was grateful to see so much character growth from him.

Neera who wanted to be able to dream. Who followed in his uncles footsteps and pursued her love of music. Also being the granddaughter of immigrants and feeling responsible for helping them all to succeed. That’s a heavy burden for anyone to carry. Her pain was visceral and I cried a few times with her.

I really enjoyed the mystery in this book. I got so excited each time a new clue was presented and it was fun trying to piece it all together. I personally really liked the pacing and the way things were revealed.

As a mixed woman living in the south I also enjoyed the parallels to the very real corruption that can come from living in a small town. Obviously the deals with devils were added for the story telling but the greed and looking at those that are in a lower class than yourself? Spot on.

Overall I’m amazed by this book! I loved every moment of it. The ending was a bit open ended so be prepared for that but I was happy with it.

I can’t wait for its release so I can buy the physical copy of it.

When Devils Sing Is a Sinister Masterpiece!

Xan Kaur’s When Devils Sing is a devilishly enthralling tale where rural mysteries, crossroad bargains, and a blood-soaked past collide in a deadly game of survival. From the very first page, this story throws readers headfirst into the action, shifting between multiple perspectives that each bring their own eerie talents and secrets to the table. With every twist and revelation, the stakes escalate, making for a breakneck race toward an ending you’ll never see coming. No one is safe when the devils start calling.

Kaur’s writing is immersive and utterly gripping, keeping readers hooked with its unpredictable turns and expertly crafted tension. Each character’s voice is distinct, their strengths cleverly woven into the narrative, ensuring every chapter feels like a crucial piece of the puzzle. The relentless pacing builds to a fever pitch, and while the ending may feel a bit rushed, it delivers a stunning, satisfying conclusion that will leave readers breathless.

I couldn't tear myself away from this book. It’s wicked, intense, and brimming with atmosphere—an absolute must-read! When Devils Sing is perfect for fans of Supernatural, Stephen Graham Jones, and small-town horror with an edge of the macabre. Don’t walk—run to get your hands on this hauntingly brilliant read!

I kept getting lost in this story. I’m fine with multiple viewpoints and side stories but this wasn’t cohesive and it was hard to keep straight and understand details. I loved the initial start with Deep South but then the story took forever to start. I really don’t consider this horror or even mystery. I’m not sure where this will fall but def not keeping on my bookshelf..

MIND BLOWN . . . .

When Devils Sing by Xan Kaur is a Southern gothic horror novel (with a mixture of thriller and rich vs poor complex) that brings 4 unorthodox allies together to investigate a teens disappearance in a small town. This town is separated with a rich side called Clear Water and a Poor side called Carrion. As they begin to investigate, the teens uncover far more sinister and ancient rituals they could have never imagined took place.

This story is broken up into 4 character POVS, with eerie dark horror elements of life and death, sacrificial rituals, the rich getting richer and the poor staying brain washed, and standing up for what’s right.

Initially going into When Devils Sing I knew it was going to be a BANGER! I love this type of elements in a story if it’s done to right. Xan Kaur gave me a sense of each character and how they grew up and their internal personalities as well as external. I became drawn to each character separately and as the book kept progressing it got better and better.

I have never really read many books on the Deep South; this story has opened up my perspective and taught me about different cultures, and gave me a new perspective on YA Novels. This novel was beyond a YA and I will definitely be recommending it to my book community!

So grateful to have had the opportunity to read an early copy and I can’t wait to see what else Xan Kaur has in store for her writing career.

Xan Kaur is, without a doubt, an author to look out for.

When Devils Sing was sent to me by way of NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. in exchange for an honest review. I’m grateful for the access to this advanced reader’s copy and will be supporting Kaur and her future works.

It’s difficult to believe that When Devils Sing is Kaur’s debut novel. This is a story you can taste, smell, and hear. Brilliantly crafted, Kaur transports you to the depths of the southern belt, a place you can hear the cicadas, feel the humid air, and witness just how unequal life is. An allegory for structural inequity, Kaur masterfully utilizes gothic horror themes to convey one compelling message: the prosperity of the few is derived from the blood of the many.

Pacing was perhaps the only factor that had this book fall just below five stars for me. While the overall themes and writing were incredible, much of the plot is centered towards the end of the novel. Still, this is an author I intend to follow for years to come. I can tell for Xan Kaur, When Devils Sing is only the beginning. I cannot wait to see what she conquers next.