In this book, our main character Hollis died and was brought back to life. She can now see grave birds. Grave birds are tied to specific people's deaths and when Hollis touches them, she can see their unfinished business. In a town run by the wealthy, an incoming stranger might disrupt everything.
The whole idea of grave birds was totally fascinating. Hollis doesn't necessarily know who each grave bird belongs to, so she spends this story kind of trying to piece together glimpses of people's lives. I don't want to give away too much, but Hollis starts to get clues to a long buried mystery that ends up having a really intricate resolution.
There was a little bit of romance in this book, but it didn't focus on it hardly at all. It was just a nice, organic relationship between Hollis and the newcomer, Cain. While it didn't add anything to the story itself, it was a nice little side plot. There wasn't a ton of on page chemistry, but they felt good together. There were a lot of side characters and it was a little hard to keep track of who was who at first. Most, if not all of them ended up being necessary to the end of the story though.
I think the atmosphere of the book was really well done. I could really imagine being in this southern town with these stuck up rich people, but it also had a really spooky feel to it.
The audiobook narrator was one of my favorite, Brittany Pressley. The book took place in South Carolina, so she had a southern accent which really transported me into the story. She always does a great job, and this was no exception!

This was a really great book and I am so glad I kept reading, It started off strong, telling the reader about Hollis and how she gained the ability to see grave birds. Sad little souls tethered to the ground where people met their end. It diverts for a bit when it starts to talk about her event planning business and the newcomer in town buying the house she was trying to purchase herself, which is where I started to get a bit jaded. I wanted to know more about the grave birds and how we could help these souls rather than this insta-crush she has on Mr. Tall, Dark, and Mysterious. I am glad I continued reading.

We do get back into the mystery and the southern gothic charm which was what was drawing me in from the beginning and I was utterly hooked. Did I need the romance? Nah, not really. However, it was fairly well done if a bit fast for my personal thoughts. The spookiness with the magical realism is what I picked this book up for and it delivered on plenty of secrets, melting faces in paintings, sad ghosts, and acts of god ( or the devil).

Hollis is a great character and I really can't fault her for falling for Cain Landry. Hollis's friend group is also a aspect of the story as well. They are so incredibly supportive. There's a lot of tension within this southern town as it seems the "older" generations are set in their upper crust ways and the younger are trying to make their way. But, dang, i was captivated by this book, especially starting at some fire tornadoes. If you know, you know.

I absolutely loved this book! The gothic southern vibes were spectacular and I had no idea where this story was going. I loved the paranormal piece. Highly recommend!

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you Dana Elmendorf, HTP, The Hive, Mira, & Harlequin Audio for the gifted copies!

Grave Birds
Dana Elmendorf
Publishing Date: July 1, 2025

🎧 Narrator: Brittany Pressley 🎧

I really loved Dana’s debut novel, In the Hour of Crows, and think Dana is just an awesome human. So when the opportunity to receive a PR box for this book came up I was so excited!

This novel is so beautifully haunting and atmospheric. It’s spooky without being too scary. I absolutely love magical realism and it is done to perfection here. The southern gothic vibes are on point. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end. And there was even a dash of romance.

Hollis Sutherland had a near death experience as a child and has been touched by death ever since. She has the ability to see Grave Birds and when she touches one she is swept away into the mind of the deceased where she can see the events leading up to their death.

With this sophomore novel Dana Elmendorf has proven herself a consistently strong writer, a beautiful storyteller, and a master at creating haunting, gothic, atmospheric vibes. She was already an auto-buy author for me, and this second book just further proves why.

🎧 I read this one with my ears because how can you not when Brittany Pressley is narrating? It is no surprise that she is absolutely flawless here. There are a handful of narrators that if I see they are doing a book it’s an automatic audio for me, and she’s one of them!

After absolutely falling in love with Dana’s writing style and storytelling in her previous book, In the Hour of Crows, I just knew I was in for a haunting yet beautifully written story with Grave Birds! And let me tell you, she absolutely delivered.

While I would say this book constitutes as light southern gothic horror it was also rich in atmospheric imagery involving a small town story deeply embedded with dark family secrets. I absolutely love the fact that Dana utilized birds again in this book. What she did with the concept of grave birds made for such a fascinating and eerie element. Hollis was a fantastic MC. She’s been touched by death and therefore has a unique ability to communicate with the deceased through birds. Talk about the perfect amount of spooky! But then we also get Cain, a mysterious new stranger/ love interest, ghosts that are desperate to reveal their past, a gossipy slew of community members, and an ending that will leave you satisfied and shocked by the reveal.

I also did an immersive read. I love reading physically but once I saw Brittany Pressley narrated, I put on the audio as well! Pressley is my favorite narrator and per usual she nailed it and brought this whole southern town to life! Pick this one up! It’s a book that will completely transport you from the start and will leave a lasting impression on you once you’ve finished.
Dana, thank you so much for including me in your Grave Birds journey from the cover reveal to the gorgeous PR box and early ARC, to your scavenger hunt leading up to pub day! I’m honored to have been apart of Grave Birds and will be recommending this book to all! 🥰

•𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 •
+ the deceased communicate through birds
+ beautifully written prose
+ immersive and atmospheric
+ a romance subplot
+ small town w/dark secrets
+ A+ audiobook
+ so many birds
+ ghosts
+ a spooky cozy sort of horror
+ South Carolina setting
+ southern gothic
+ read if you liked In the Hour of Crows, Midnight is the Darkest Hour, or the writing styles of Emilia Hart, Sarah Penner, or Adrienne Young

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ★★★★★ 𝟓
𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭: I loved it!!

Thank you Dana Elmendorf, HTP, Mira, NetGalley for the gifted Copy and ALC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dana Elmendorf for the opportunity to read the audiobook arc for this title.

This was purely an unexpected favorite of mine this year. A captivating, supernaturally charged, southern mystery. As someone who is an avid horror reader, I would dare say this was even cozy to me. This reminded me of the Princess and the Frog, with its southern charm and light romance elements. It also reminded me of Only One Left by Riley Sager for the mystery elements, but as I didn’t enjoy that book, this was significantly better. If you hated Only One Left, you’ll love this book. Beautifully narrated and acted, it’s very hard for a mystery to captivate my attention, considering I’ve only had bad luck with them, but this was a welcomed surprise! The sheer variety and amount of characters were well organized and executed; with some characters being morally grey and others being more straightforward in their motives. At no point could I predict the outcome of this mystery and the reveal blew my mind. Just the right amount of spooky with the addition of the supernatural (potentially folkloric, I need to look into this) grave birds. A very unique narrative that had me hooked. This is likely going to be the book I was most surprised to enjoy so much in 2025. An unanticipated favorite!

The blurb for this book caught my attention…”The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires meets Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”.

I wished the narrator didn’t act out all the voices of each character—comes off bad and cheesy sounding, otherwise her southern accent suits the narration rather well.

Grave Birds is a southern gothic story where its lead character has the ability to see the “grave bird” of an individual who has died. With this ability, she can go back in time to view how the person died. Throughout this novel we are introduced to a variety of characters we have to determine who can and cannot be trusted. One of them being Cain. Cain comes into town and behind him is a shit storm of trouble. He’s also the character I enjoyed the most and wished he had more presence in this story. Louisa is our lead character’s pet cockatiel, and frankly she steals every scene she is in, with her dirty mouth!

I would like to think that had I read the physical copy of the book, I might have been more compelled to rank this book higher, even with the kitschy-gimmicky narration of various character’s point of view.

I have no doubt that this book will do well. It has a great title, beautiful artwork, and a story that isn’t too complex but also grips the reader’s focus.

Dana Elmendorf’s Grave Birds is a captivating blend of mystery, the paranormal and love. Hollis Sutherland, who had a near-death experience as a child, now possesses the extraordinary ability to see grave birds and their spirits, guiding them to peace. The gothic and paranormal elements are seamlessly integrated into the narrative, making the story feel both authentic and enchanting. Brittany Pressley’s narration is a true standout, and she has become my go-to narrator for any story I read!

Thank you so much for the beautiful story. Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the chance to listen as I read. I am blown away with how much I loved the story. I read it way to fast and was so disappointed it was over. This has everything this girl wants in a book!

Hollis was such a great character. I loved so much about her, even her gift. It broke me the guilt she carries with her everyday because of her grandfather's passing. She is having such a rough time but continuously remains optimistic all while not being naive.

When Cain comes into the picture I was very unsure how I felt about him. I came up with my opinion rather quickly. Hollis' bird really steals the show often. The gothic and paranormal aspects I thought were done so well. Just the perfect amount that it was so believable. I often kept forgetting this was fiction because I was in this story. I felt a part of what was happening. It pulled me in and I was there for it.

The twist threw me for a loop. I did not see it coming. I knew something was coming but not that! I hope to read more of this author soon.

Ⓖⓔⓝⓡⓔⓢ
𖦹 Horror
𖦹 Fantasy
𖦹 Paranormal
𖦹 Gothic

꧁𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼꧂

✨ 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪….. 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚.”

𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙖𝙠 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚. 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚. 𝙎𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮. 𝙄𝙩 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙞𝙡, 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨. 𝘾𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVED everything about this magical tale!
The Grave Birds were such a fun concept to read about. The plot instantly drew me in and at no point was I feeling bored or like I needed things to get going. I truly loved this book so much. A favorite read of 2025.

I was intrigued! I absolutely loved this book.

I have never read any southern gothic books, and I fear I may have been transformed.

It was spooky, but not too horror heavy where I couldn’t sleep.

The mystery kept me on edge the whole time, and I appreciated the romance being a very late subplot and not overpowering the story. Kaine could’ve had more character development, but I didn’t mind our protagonist taking the front stage at all times.

English is not my first language, so listening to it is something I highly recommend. The southern accent brought everything together. I appreciated the narrator - for this kind of genre, her voice was perfect.

Grave Birds is the definition of a southern Gothic novel. The atmosphere feels dark and mysterious,almost ethereal. It feels as if there are ghosts hiding behind every magnolia tree. The family histories run deep in this small southern town and certain families have ruled as royalty for decades. And one particular family has a very dark history that they've successfully hidden for years. Until that is, a mysterious handsome stranger comes to town. And when he connects with Hollis, a local woman with a very specific paranormal gift, the small town is turned on its head. Strange weather, plagues of spiders, fire tornadoes and other abnormalities are let lose on the townsfolk as if the spirits of the dead are demanding retribution.

This audiobook was.perfectly narrated. The tone,speed and the slightly southern drawl of the voice actress only enhances the story. A wonderful, mysterious and moody novel for anyone searching for a southern Gothic mystery.

This book was put on my radar by my dear friend Lindsey! I saw her beautiful book on instagram and was instantly drawn to it. Thankfully Netgalley had the hookup for an audio book so we could do a buddy read!

Hawthorne is a small town in South Carolina where everyone knows everyone. Sutherland has lived there her whole life and knows the town like the back of her hand. However, the town might now know Hollis as well as they think. Hollis has the unique ability to see Grave Birds. When she was a little girl she was brought back from the dead, and with that resurrection came the ability to see the birds. These birds carry visions of the dead's unfinished business.

When the incredibly mysterious, handsome Cain Landry comes to town, Hollis is thrown off guard. Not just by his incredibly good looks, but by the Grave bird that is always following him. While Hollis finds herself frustrated with Cain and his bulldozing into the town and taking over, she also finds herself quite smitten with him as well. But while she may be falling for him, something is very off in the town of Hawthorne. The Grave Birds stories are not adding up with those of the living and Hollis is determined to get down to the bottom of it. Even if it means finding out Cain is hiding something.

This book felt like I was slap dab in the middle of South Carolina just looking at the mossy trees and vibing with the gothic feel of the town. As someone from a small town, the author definitely nailed the “small town atmosphere” and the sprinkle of the gothic setting was perfection. It definitely felt like a mystery with a sprinkle of romance, but just the right amount to keep you interested in their story. The ending surprised me which I always take as a win!

Grave Birds has a little bit of everything, mystery, paranormal, love interests and beautiful atmosphere!

A unique story, told from the perspective of the dead, via the grave birds our narrator encounters. The suspense had me sitting in the car listening long after I'd arrived at my destination. At times I had trouble following characters due to the some of the voices sounding the same, but definitely will be recommending and purchasing this title!

A beautifully written, atmospheric, gothic tale! This is my first book by Dana and I am excited to read more from her. Her writing flows wonderfully and intrigued me from the very start. It is a gothic horror-esque tale but it didn't feel scary... more so hauntingly beautiful or Eerily beautiful! I loved the tone and the hint of mystery and romance woven throughout. The birds felt like lovely little ghosts and yet everytime they appeared you knew something disconcerting was coming. It was a wonderful mix and I loved the way things unfolded. It's a story that will stick with me and I will never look at birds quite the same!

Wow, wow, wow! This author knows the art of good, old-fashioned storytelling. She drew me in from the first page and I was constantly thinking about the book even when not listening. The characters feel like people you actually know; the author did an incredible job with creating the town and making you feel like you lived there, watching everything unfold. The main character, Hollis, is truly likable and I was invested in her story. The idea of “grave birds” is so unique, both frightening and beautiful. The mystery/plot was unpredictable, and I loved all the little twists bringing the puzzle pieces together.

The narrator did a phenomenal job! All the characters had distinctive voices and she was able to build the tension, especially during the flashback scenes.

Big five stars and will be recommending! Thanks for the opportunity to listen!

I loved "In the Hour of Crows" and I think "Grave Birds" is even better. This story is magical in all the best ways, rich with history and family and, of course, mystery and deceit. It was a wonderful, atmospheric read and I can't wait for her next title!

𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗘𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗳’𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱𝘀 soars on gothic wings, and Brittany Pressley gives it life! It’s part ghost story, part romance, part small-town exposé.

This is a Southern Gothic tale set in Hawthorne, South Carolina and there’s nothing quite like a good Southern story. Hollis Sutherland, who briefly died as a child and came back, now sees the titular spectral birds tied to unsettled spirits. When Cain Landry, a mysteriously alluring newcomer, arrives alongside omens like blood-red blossoms and bird flocks crashing into homes, Hollis must unravel secrets buried deep in the town’s past—questioning whether Cain is a divine revelation or the very devil himself. 😏

Brittany Pressley’s narration was perfection! She delivers it in a rich Southern drawl that complements the eerie ambiance of the story so freaking well! She also has an emotive delivery that gives the plot tension and nuance, especially in moments of magic and atmosphere. I think I found a new favorite narrator! 🎧

This is an immersive Southern Gothic experience for sure. The grave birds concept—a melancholic embodiment of unresolved spirits—its eerie and haunting and I loved it. I even loved how each bird was different—Robin, Crow, etc.

There’s tension, atmosphere, and the ghost‑town charm veiling dark family secrets. It’s moody, beautiful, unnerving and just about everything I love in a book.

It’s an atmospheric, twisty Southern Gothic with memorable supernatural elements and a sensual undercurrent. And the narration adds a little southern charm and grit. Highly recommend. Especially if you enjoy stories where Southern soil remembers everything, with magic that’s subtle, bone-deep, and more haunting than helpful, pick this one up! 🙌🏻

🐦‍⬛ Grave Birds ~ Audiobook 🐦‍⬛
Rating - 4.5 stars!
Wow, this book was great this would be amazing book for spooky time. It has a spooky vibe to it overall it’s a southern Gothic mystery with dash of suspense. The narrator of this book does such a good job of making you feel present with everything that’s happening. Also, the accent was a chef’s kiss.! I enjoyed the dark mysteriousness of this whole thing and with like the curses and omens that the small paranormal town had was amazing. I love the grave birds idea too. this book had just a dash of romance, but I feel like that was a perfect amount. I loved the brewing MMC that we got to me and felt like he fit perfectly in this book. I will say that I’ve never seen any concept like that before, but I am definitely a huge fan. This was the first book I’ve ever read by this author, and I am not disappointed in that And I will definitely be checking more of her books out.

Book Review: Grave Birds by Dana Elmendorf
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dana Elmendorf delivers another captivating story steeped in atmosphere and heart with Grave Birds—a Southern gothic mystery that blends charm, suspense, and just the right touch of the uncanny.

From the first chapter, I was pulled in by Elmendorf’s signature writing style—lush, immersive, and emotionally resonant. She has a real gift for crafting characters that feel alive, and in Grave Birds, every voice is distinct, every scene steeped in a haunting sense of place. The Southern setting is full of grit and grace, adding layers of texture to a mystery that unfolds at the perfect pace.

The concept of the grave birds themselves was so unique and compelling, adding a quiet magical realism that gave the story a rich folkloric undertone. I was equally drawn in by the relationships between characters and the small-town secrets buried just beneath the surface.

I can confidently say I’ll read anything Dana Elmendorf writes from here on out.

I highly recommend Grave Birds to fans of her previous work, as well as readers who enjoy mystery, atmospheric settings, and emotionally immersive storytelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance listening copy (ALC).