When Devils Sing explores the many connections and traps among the rich and the poor in a small Southern town and what people do to climb up or get out. The book starts with a bang (literally - a car crash) that upsets the lives of multiple characters and introduces how this town makes deals with the devil. But not the horned cloven-footed monster of Christendom. This town has its own devils - a trio of cicada, snake, and crow.

This was a fun ride! The multiple narrators for the audio made it feel more real and made the pov shifts seamless and logical. I was rooting for multiple characters, and this will be a fun one if you're here for the underdog.

I loved this Southern horror novel. The atmosphere was perfectly set in a humid southern cicada-filled summer. The horror and suspense were wonderfully done. Teens go missing from Carrion, GA roughly every 13 years and no one really bats an eye, but this time the boy had friends, and went missing from a bad location, so a group of unlikely teens band together to solve the disappearance and find out more than they bargained for.

The book starts like the song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia..." but then he made the rich people nearly invincible and made life or death deals with people who were out of options.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Henry Holt and Co. as well as the author for this audio ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
#NetGalley #MACAudio25 #HenryHoltandCo. #WhenDevilsSing #XanKaur #JenniferPickens #MichaelCrouch #LandonWoodson #audiobook #Horror #Fiction #BookReview

Title: When Devils Sing
Author: Xan Kaur
Format: Audiobook
Narrators: Jennifer Pickens, Landson Woodson, and Michael Crouch
Publisher: Macmillan Audio with Henry Holt and Co.
Publication Date: May 27, 2025
Themes: Religion, Aporophobia, Grief, Family,
Trigger Warnings: addiction, alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, familial dischord, gore, mental illness, emotional abuse, grief, religion, demons, devils, corrupt leadership, cult behaviors, animal cruelty/death, fire, medical content, body horror, child death, car accident, copaganda, aporophobia, murder, torture, ritual sacrifice

This was an enjoyable and surprisingly gruesome read. I do not consider this a criticism. In the rural town of Carrion, Georgia child disappearances are disturbingly common. The latest disappearance seems to have occurred in the motel owned by Neera Singh’s grandparents and Neera suddenly finds herself in the middle of things along with Isaiah, the son of a prominent judge, Sam, the daughter of the town’s hitman, and Reid, the youngest son of the Founding Family of the neighboring rich community of Clearwater. The unlikely group uncovers something sinister that they vow to put an end to.

It’s consistently a surprise to this reader how often I enjoy middle grade and YA horror. I’m also often surprised at how gruesome content created for kids can be. Please note that this is not a criticism. The stories are not complicated by sexual content and tend to stick to the horror portions of the stories, as was the case in “When Devils Sing”. I loved how gruesome it was, although I could have done without the animal deaths, but that’s another issue. The characters were pure and likable in both their personalities and their relationships. This was clear as they struggled to uncover the supernatural dealings in their community as well as decisions about career and college and separating oneself from one’s family. I enjoyed the whole thing. The nuanced characters coupled with the Southern horror made for an unfettered and enjoyable reading experience. The cicada element really added a creepy vibe to an already creepy story.

The narrators of this audio edition made the experience more enjoyable. Each voice lent his or her own spin on his or her respective characters. Their performances added a lot to an already awesome reading experience.

All in all, I think it’s clear that I loved this audiobook. I highly recommend it to any horror lover whether they’re actually a young adult or not.

The Devil Went Down to Georgia... and he made the rich people nearly indestructible and he made deals with kids who had no other options. And every thirteen years people start going missing and no one bats an eye... until this year.

⛧Thank you to @netgalley, @macmillan.audio & @henryholtbooks for the ALC. I bought the physical copy myself.

The writing in When Devils Sing was so immersive and atmospheric - I loved it! A wonderfully spooky Southern Gothic horror - I would absolutely recommend this novel!

When Devils Sing is an incredibly strong story, especially considering it is the author's debut. The book follows four teens living in the South, all of whom are a part of marginalized communities, with varying levels of privilege. The four teens' lives are brought together as they make deals with devils and explore the mysteries of their community. I was really impressed by Xan Kaur's writing and how she managed to tie the four main characters' lives together. Before they even start interacting with one another, their lives are very well intertwined. And the themes regarding social status, race, queerness, and wealth are incredibly well written. Honestly, my only complaint is that the marketing for this book kind of spoiled it. The author posted a bunch of TikTok's promoting her debut novel in which she spoiled the end of the book. So even though the truth is hinted at throughout the story, the marketing kind of spoiled the mystery aspect of the book. It also messed up my perception of the book's pacing, since what I thought would be the central plot point based off the marketing was actually the twist. I understand that you have to grab people's attention, but I wish I could have gone into this book without any pre-conceived notions. Overall though, I was really impressed by this book and this author's writing. I can't wait to see what she puts out next!

When Devils Sing by Xan Kaur is a dark, lyrical descent into grief, revenge, and the supernatural—and the audiobook brings it all to life in a beautifully eerie way. The narration is rich and atmospheric, perfectly matching the gothic tone of the story. Every word feels deliberate, pulling you deeper into the shadows with each chapter.

The story itself is layered and emotional, blending folklore and trauma with striking prose. There were moments where the pacing dipped or the plot became slightly hard to follow, but the voice performance helped smooth over those bumps and kept me engaged throughout.

This is the kind of audiobook that wraps around you—unsettling, poetic, and powerful. A must-listen for fans of dark feminist horror and slow-burning revenge tales.

This was such an amazing story— The multiple POVs in the beginning that showcased different stories & how they interconnect was crazy work.
I ate this up.

Story wise? Who doesn’t like a Southern Gothic Horror novel. Between solving mysteries & making deals w/ devils, this really delves into so many real hard hitting topics from classism to racism.
*Love the AANHPI rep

Although, if this wasn’t YA… It would’ve went even crazier I feel ‘cause Jack? 👀
Just something about man’s had me ready to make all kinds of deals lmfaoo.

+ The narrators? 🔥 I’m an especially big fan of anything Jennifer Wren Pickens narrates, so this was just right up my alley. Anjali Kunapaneni, Landon Woodson, and Michael Crouch all did wonderful too though, I was impressed!!

Overall, I loved this story & I wouldn’t be opposed to a spin off about Jack… The Devil & His Jeep 🤣
But I’m also interested in the other Devil’s, maybe some backstory on all of them 👀

This audiobook was a hauntingly slow-burn ride through the dark heart of the South. It felt like sinking into warm, sticky Georgia air—thick with secrets, old money, and something ancient lurking just below the surface.

The story follows four teens—each from wildly different worlds—brought together by the bloody disappearance of Dawson Sumter. I loved how their backgrounds clashed: you’ve got Neera, a fierce girl from a struggling Indian family; Isaiah, the privileged true-crime podcaster; Reid, the heir to old money; and Sam, the daughter of the town’s hitman. They all carried their own baggage, and seeing them work together (or not) kept me hooked.

What really pulled me in was the way the author blended supernatural horror with human greed. There’s something so chilling about how evil can feel both mystical and all too real at the same time. I’m a sucker for devil-at-the-crossroads stories, and this one delivered, with a creepy Southern Gothic vibe that reminded me of "My Throat An Open Grave." It was atmospheric, eerie, and heavy on the sense of dread.

Pacing-wise, this audiobook took its sweet time—sometimes too much time. Around the 75% mark, I felt it lost momentum before rallying for a satisfying ending. But I’m glad I listened instead of reading; the different narrators added so much life to the changing points of view and helped me stay immersed even when the plot meandered.

Overall, this was a dark, rich mystery exploring how far people will go for power, what secrets fester in small towns, and how the scariest devils are often human. If you love Southern Gothic stories that mix supernatural and real-life horror, give this a shot.

This was such a fantastic read! The synopsis sounded really intriguing, and I was excited to see what this story would be. Right from the start, we're going, with a car accident and a deal with a devil. I had to keep reading and see where the story would go!

This story is told through 4 perspectives, and it was a bit confusing at first, keeping them separate, and what their connections were to everybody. I really enjoyed getting to know them, what part they'd play in this book, and what they were going to do with this whole situation!

Things will get worse before they get better is the theme of this book, it feels like. Because things were going wrong, and some awful things happened, and new information was learned. But I was rooting for them, and was so excited to see how they deal with this whole situation!

That ending though? That was just chaos, things happening everywhere. And while it's not the most satisfying, bad guys all taken down, there were some consequences of what they did, but there was some satisfaction, and I'm glad that they got the good that they did!

Loved reading this book and I need to read more by Zan Kaur!

Damn if this book did not scratch my Sinners itch! I recently saw Sinners and absolutely loved it. Coming off of that, a southern YA horror book around selling your soul to the devil(s) was exactly what I needed.

I thought that there were many interesting, differing POVs in this book and I really enjoyed that. Bouncing between the different characters and the struggles they were going through kept the story fresh and alive the entire time. I also loved seeing how they all knew each other from their small town.

The mentions of the screaming cicadas also reminded me a lot of last year where I had to avoid being dive-bombed by them when I was out in the Chicago suburbs.

This was such a fun audiobook to listen to - I highly recommend it in that format. A big thank you to @macmillan.audio for the advanced audiobook! I loved it.

That being said, the cover is just beautiful and the rest of the book too (I saw it in Barnes and Noble).

The devils in the details, read this if you like:
🌵Southern, Small Town Settings
🫣 Local Folklore
😈Stories about the devil

I first heard about When Devils Sing through the authors TikTok, and after seeing that it was being pitched as a “southern gothic allegory for how the elite sacrifice the lower class to the devil for their own financial gain” I immediately requested the book.

I loved the mystery, the southern horror elements, the diverse representation, and the podcast elements. This was a great debut novel and I can’t wait to see what this author does next!

Side note: the audiobook is fantastic! I started reading it physically, but switched over to the audiobook once approved and I couldn’t stop listening to it!

4/5 ⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Atmospheric as hell and buzzing with small town tensions, this YA novel about racism, classism, and fighting for one's own future really worked for me. I think having four POVs could have become overwhelming (too much info) or flat (not enough life in each character), but Xan Kaur balanced them deftly here. I was invested in each character's journey and excited to see how their lives would intersect. I really enjoyed the different narrators for each MC and the audio production overall, including the podcast chunks. This is a great read for the dead of summer.

This is one of those wonderful stories where there are wonderful characters to care about, an intriguing plot with a nicely developed story, and a location that is just as much of a character as the people. There were also multiple wonderful narrators for the audiobook, and the only problem was that it felt too short-- I wanted more, even though the story wrapped up well.
A teen is missing in an area with dark secrets and a cyclical cicada infestation. I was drawn in from the beginning when a young girl willingly offered her soul to the devil to save her injured brother, and the tension stayed with me throughout the story.

When Devils Sing, written by Xan Kaur and narrated by Anjali Kunapaneni, Jennifer Pickens, Landon Woodson, and Michael Crouch, is a fictional mystery book written for young adults that will keep you on your toes!

This book takes place in a small town named Carrion in Georgia, where four teens who live in a small town begin investigating a disappearance that has occurred. Each teen is connected to the disappeared in some way, so they must come together to figure out what is happening, and if there is a way to stop it.

This book is filled with family mystery, drama, disappearances, cicadas, and plenty more that will keep the reader engaged. I loved the familial relationships and how they changed and developed throughout the book, as well as how friendships were made and repaired. I also enjoyed the musical aspect of this book, and the folklore as well.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a mystery! Thank You to NetGalley and to the author, publisher, and narrators of this book for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

When books get compared to The Raven Cycle, I'm immediately skeptical. BUT I think this book lives up to those big claims really well!

We follow the interconnected messy lives of a few teens in distress in small town Appalachia. They each make a deal with their own devil for life or fame outside this small town. I found the characters to be relatable and rooted for them throughout the book, despite their flaws.

I was genuinely creeped out and the atmosphere and vibes of When Devils Sing really sucked me in

It's really interesting how this gives epic fantasy adventure vibes while taking place entirely nearly entirely in a small southern town. I really liked the energy, messaging and themes. You get a group of teens going up against the devil(s). You get some subtle coverage on issues like class divide and poverty in the south. And you get to consider how the younger generation has to pay for the sins of their fathers.

I was worried about the multiple POVs, but I was able to follow all of them without issue. I also loved the intermittent podcast episodes in the story. I find that podcast povs work so well in audiobooks. The people producing the audiobooks always seem like they get to have a little fun making it sound like an actual podcast.

Some amazing narrators here. I adore Michael Couch and Jennifer Pickens and neither disappointed. The other narrators were also very good.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this audiobook! All opinions are my own!

This was such a creepy read that highlighted the dichotomy of the South in such an uncomfortable way, and I loved every second of it. From the injustices wrapped up in tragic teenage lives, to the lengths that the rich will go to to protect their own, every part of this book made you stop and take a breath.

This was a book that made me feel as though I was driving through my Southern hometown, from the mansions to the homeless camps and back. Setting this against the pure horror of the cicadas and their devils made this book come to life in a way that will stick with me for ages.

I also loved the addition of the podcast script, it really helped bring the audio to life!

Get your hands on this, and maybe keep the lights on while you read!

When Devils Sing is a young adult horror novel that perfectly captures the small town feel where something sinister is lurking.
When Dawson Sumter disappears leaving behind blood in a motel, no one is too surprised. Disappearances like this happen regularly in Carrion, Georgia. However, three teens decide to dig deeper into what happened, and they uncover a dark secret that none of them were prepared for.
This was really creepy in the best way. I loved the addition of the podcast script which made this book really memorable. The narrator did a fantastic job distinguishing the variety of characters and bringing them to life.

As someone who grew up in Georgia in the "clearwater" side of life. This book portrayed the dichotomy of the south in such a real and raw way. All too often people are forgotten in the rush of life but someone always remembers them. Having the Devil(s) guide the story and waiting to see how it all came together had been squealing at my phone, just as scared as the characters.