Spooky, romantic, sumptuous; Spit Back the Bones has it all

Mila is a tough cookie. Roe is a moody heartthrob. The bog is angry, and I am here for it.

If you’ve read any of my reviews, you know I love atmosphere, and Spit Back the Bones has it. Each scene starts, or is embellished with, the rush of the bog, or the light through the trees, or the way the emotion laces through Mila’s body. It’s immersive and spooky. It’s balanced perfectly between the action though, so it’s not overwhelming. No J.R.R. Tolkien happening or anything. 😉

Mila and Roe share their suffering at the hands (…waters?) of the Thomas Bog, and it actually brings them closer. They rely on each other, and that kindles their romance. It added just enough levity to an otherwise tense plot. I don’t know about you, but I really hope horror-romance as a genre sticks around.

The story weaves back and forth between what Mila knows, and what the bog knows, and the sinister truths the dark waters of the bog hold. What comes from the bog (vague, for spoiler’s sake) is truly terrifying, not just on page, but also because it can actually exist in everyday life. It’s a gruesome metaphor that speaks to the complexity of human nature—how our choices shape us, and can even shape our children. How family trauma goes well beyond the first bad seed, and how, if we don’t rip out what’s hurting us, it will only fester.

So. if you’re looking for a little bit of introspection with a story that thrills, Spit Back the Bones is definitely for you.

I had the opportunity to read a free advance review copy of this book, with thanks from Turner Publishing and NetGalley. My review is honest, and given freely.

3.5 ⭐️
horror/ horromance is not typically a genre i lean towards but the cover is stunning and the title reeled me right in so i managed to get an arc on netgalley (thankyou!!). the description sounded intriguing and different from anything i’ve read and i did really enjoy the mysterious, haunting atmosphere and the writing style was painting a vivid picture of each scene in my mind. one thing i’d say is at some points the dialogue could’ve gone into a bit more in depth as it was feeling a tad rushed at times and I wish it was a bit longer!! overall i did really like it and I’d read more from this author. 🤌

Rating: C

Spit Back the Bones is a new adult / young adult horror novel set in a swampy small town that hides a dark secret bubbling under the surface. Mila-May has returned to see her family and wish her sister success as she leaves for college, but when she arrives, she discovers that her sister is missing. Much in the same way that her brother went missing 3 years prior.

I can't say I really enjoyed this book. The character's voice felt like she was both a teenager and a writer, dropping poetic similes and metaphors every second sentence. She was edgy and angry and would say likes like, "No one deserves to die...except maybe you." It all felt like it took itself too seriously and going in I wasn't sure what to expect.

The book is promoted like midnight mass (something I haven't seen) and as a horrormance. But to be honest the horror aspect is the main portion and the romance is basically nonexistent, it's not a typical romance story and it's not quite functional enough for my tastes as a horror. It's trying to be gross and shocking but the constant mentions of smells and scents over the physical feelings and the comical fighting took me out of the novel constantly.

I struggled with the main character's voice and how every single time she looked at her boyfriend she would bring up the torment in his eyes or how tormented everyone was. It was good for characterising the group but it didn't appeal to me.

I will admit that the novel does feel very small town, southern USA and I appreciated the environment and claustrophobia but I didn't enjoy this one that much.

A summer horror book where the bog is this supernatural entity that seeps into the surrounding town like the plague from an age old curse??! The supernatural elements and visceral horror imagery in this were incredible , I literally had to swat my face because the buzzing of the flies simmering throughout the plot of the book actually made my skin crawl. This has some religious trauma seeped in throughout the book, mixed in with things like grief and trauma. A couple of things that I will say is that the pacing of this was somewhat all over the place and there wasn’t as much consistency as expected . I also would say that this book felt YA unti some parts of the story where it seemed like it was actually an adult book which I think did make it slightly confusing with what audience the book is capturing/ marketing towards! Nevertheless I think this was such an enticing summer horror with such unique supernatural elements and I would definitely recommend it!

Thank you to net galley and turner publishing company for the e-arc in exchange for a honest review !

This story had such a great blend of romance and mystery, with some unexpected twists that kept me hooked. The way the main characters connect felt natural and different, and I think horror romance might just be my new favorite genre. There was love, loss, suspense, and a real sense of self-discovery—it all came together in such a powerful way.

Big thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to read this early!

* Thank you NetGalley & Keylight Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. *

I have some unfortunately mixed feelings about Spit Back the Bones. I loved the cover, I loved the name, and I loved the premise. The execution itself... I was not as big of a fan of. The writing was good, if a bit clunky at times. And I had such a hard time connecting with the characters. I don't want to sound like I hated the story, because I didn't, and in a lot of ways I was really intrigued, and will be sure to try whatever the author writes next. If you're a religious horrormance fan, you may like this more than I did, so give it a try!

I am slowly turning into a horror fan, but the book really needs to suck me in to actually finish it, and this one hit the nail on the head! The idea of a bog already is unsettling, add in the wonderful writing of Teagan and your apple watch will tell you your pulse is through the roof! If I didn't need to break to calm myself down at times, this wouldve been finished in one sitting!

I enjoyed this SO much. The atmosphere reminded me of when I was growing up (in the mountains of Appalachia, hot summers, muggy weather, small town vibes). If you’re into haunted bogs and mysteries and (spoiler?) cursed worms, this one might be the one for you. But, if you’re into haunted bogs any way wary of strong imagery, might step lightly, but I can say it’d be a good intro to horror for anyone new to the genre.

Really enjoyed the writing and imagery, and can’t wait to read anything else Teagan writes!

Not my thing at all I’m afraid. I hated our main character Mila and didn’t care about anyone else in this town.
I did not want to read another description of a damn bog. I get it. It is mad. Maybe since I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bog in my life (and if I have it’s clearly not memorable enough) I just didn’t fully connect to the atmosphere of the novel.
I found the plot to be super predictable and it offended nothing new to the genre as a whole. I found it convenient that the bad guy was the guy Mila also hated most.
I found the end super fast and there was no resolution afterwards.
I wasn’t a fan of the dialogue and Mila did nothing but insult people.
The romance lacked emotion and anything to make it really believable.
Overall this book was a slog to get through. That being said the lesbian couple was cute!

This was epic! Such a great storyline. I was hooked the whole time. I have not read this author before but I definitely will again. Thank you for an arc of this

This book was so haunting and creepy, and I couldn’t get enough of it.i felt unsettled and on edge the whole time I was reading this. Mila is an FMC I won’t forget! She was all over the place and twisted in so many directions but she was dedicated to her family. Definitely worth the read.

A definite favorite of 2025! This book is angsty and emotional, full of difficult topics—religion, belief, trauma of all kinds—and the way they are approached and explored came off very gentle while still giving the reader a great horror story. The characters were all flawed and real, making them extremely relatable. The big as a sentient character really caught me in the first chapter.

Highly recommend! Thank you, Netgalley and Turner, for an early copy of this great book! Opinions are my own.

A haunting tale of family secrets and something festering at the heart of the bog. Perhaps it’s done keeping secrets and the voices of the dead have started to reach from within the depths. A story that exposes the horrors of coming back home, the ghosts we never really bury and the pervasive rot of secrets. Gripping, grotesque and eerily beautiful.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 | 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠

As a former resident of Upper Michigan, this book reeled me in from the first chapter.. I brought back the loneliness and nostalgia of my childhood, along with the fear and peace that te land could bring, depending on emotions. It was terrifying and compelling and I absolutely loved every single page. Going to head over to Amazon and download more from this author as soon as I see it!

Okay, I'm hooked—creepy bog stories are my weakness, and this one totally delivered. The eerie vibes? Immaculate. I was all in from the start. That said, the pacing felt a bit uneven in places, and the tone occasionally wavered between adult and YA, which threw me off a little. I would’ve loved a bit more consistency in that regard. Still, the overall experience? So good. Dark, weird, and totally my kind of read.

I came back to this title sooo many times before I applied for the ARC.
It's not my typical genre - in fact, the last horror book I read was a Stephen King when I was bout 13.
Something about this one was just calling to me tho0ugh, and I'm so glad I read it.
I spent most of the book giving my husband a heart attack with the amount of gasping, gagging and hiding under the hood of my jumper I was doing, but then the other parts were sweet and romantic and a great little respite from the general horror and suspense that was the rest of it.
I'm not sure if I will pick up another horror book, but I will definitely read a Teagan Olivia King one.
Her style of writing is intelligent, flows smoothly, descriptive in a way that isn't distracting, and the story she weaves is traumatic, angst filled, thrilling and pretty freaking gross. Enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to provide an honest review for this ARC!

4.5 ⭐, but rounded up to 5 cause I feel like it's well deserved

I reaaally love the atmosphere in this book, and the plot overall. I think it's a great horror book, however, I had a few issues with the dialogue. I really found the dialogue weird at times and it pulled me out of the story, reminding me it's just a book, I can't explain it. There is a particular dialogue where one character is interrogating (full on police interrogation) another character that was a witness to a weird occurrence and our FMC is conveniently getting all the information needed. But the vibes were vibing, so I chose to ignore this aspect lol

Overall, I am happy I picked this book up because I loved loved loved the the setting, the atmosphere, and the plot!

Thank you NetGalley and Turner Publishing Company for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion! Needless to say, as always, all thoughts are my own and I have not been influenced in any way.

4.5 stars!

Mila’s brother vanished three years ago. Since then, she’s fled her hometown and the family’s bog, scared she’ll hear his voice calling from the water, like the other dead do. But when her sister asks her to come home for her graduation, Mila returns—only to find out her sister has vanished too. With the sheriff doing nothing and the reverend breathing down her neck, Mila and the reverend’s estranged son are the only ones willing to find out what really happened to her siblings... and why more and more people are disappearing into the bog.

I read this book in a single day, that’s how obsessed and addicted I was! I honestly don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it. The vibes were actual perfection. Atmospheric, spooky, haunting, chilling, strangely beautiful. It gave me the same vibes as Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew, just monstrously beautiful. I admit, I was a little confused at times about what the hell was actually happening, but I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know what'll happen.

Mila was full of so much anger, rage and bravery that I could feel all of it through the pages. All the female characters who got more page time were incredible—fierce, strong, unforgettable. And Roe, the reverend’s son, my sweet boy, was such a gem!

The writing style fit the story and the vibes perfectly. It felt simple at times (bordering on YA and then suddenly swinging into something darker and more adult) but it really worked overall. I also loved how the book explored religion and religious trauma in such a unique way. And the plot?? So original and fascinating, full of twists and turns. It constantly kept me on edge. And the romance—oh my god. I don’t even know how to describe it. It was so tender and sweet, and so uniquely done. It didn’t overwhelm the plot at all, it was just the perfect amount. Still thinking about it!

I’m so happy I got an ARC of this (thank you NetGalley and the publisher!). I’ve wanted to read it ever since it was announced, and it was just as good as I hoped it would be!

Listen, if you can get past the first chapter you WILL enjoy this book. I love almost any book that is put in front of me but if it has culty vibes, I will eat it up and leave no crumbs. This was such an uniquely entertaining read that I am wishing this book would be published today so I can get all my friends and family a copy. This book will take you on a wild journey through grief and the five stages of it and will weave in love all at the same time. So so so good. Go read it. Thanks for the ARC NetGalley!

girls. i'm obsessed. i like scary bog books and i cannot lie.

the pacing felt just a little bit off at times and the mood kind of jumped from adult to YA a few times, so i'd rather have had more consistency, but overall this was a fantastic read