Wake the Bones: A Novel

by Elizabeth Kilcoyne

The sleepy little farm that Laurel Early grew up on has awakened. The woods are shifting, the soil is dead under her hands, and her bone pile just stood up and walked away.

After dropping out of college, all she wanted was to resume her life as a tobacco hand and taxidermist and try not to think about the boy she can’t help but love. Instead, a devil from her past has returned to court her, as he did her late mother years earlier. Now, Laurel must unravel her mother’s terrifying legacy and tap into her own innate magic before her future and the fate of everyone she loves is doome

• ISBN10: 1250790824
• ISBN13: 9781250790828
• Publish Date: 15 August 2022
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Wednesday Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• URL: http://melia.co.uk/page/detail/?k=9781250790828

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Yay! It's time for more paranormal reads (seriously, I love all the releases that drop around September/October every year). Time to dive into Wake the Bones, written by Elizabeth Kilcoyne.

Laurel Early has spent nearly her whole life on this sleepy little farm. She left for a little while – to chase an educational dream she ultimately abandoned. Now she just wants to be left alone to her work (tobacco hand and taxidermist). In truth, she wants to forget all about the boy she loves.

The past won't stay dead, no matter how much we may want it to. In Laurel's case, this is a bit more literal than most, as a creature has once again returned with the intent of courting Laurel.

If you love odd (read: unique) reads full of fantasy and lusciously written prose, then you've got to check out Wake the Bones by Elizabeth Kilcoyne. For me, the writing is the biggest standout of this novel, with the plot and characters taking second place.

Before I get too deep into my review, I should mention the darker themes of Wake the Bones. This book covers postpartum depression and animal death. So it is not going to be suitable for all readers!

The ethereal and gothic vibes of this novel are on point. They're strongly supported by Kilcoyne's writing style, which feels more lyrical than not. It's the perfect setting for a darker plot and was enough to let my imagination run away.

It is worth pointing out that it felt like something was missing from Wake the Bones. It should have been a novel I loved with all of my heart. But instead, I merely liked it? Not that this is a bad thing. But it did have so much potential.

Thanks to Wednesday Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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[ambiancereads]

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc*

This story follows Laurel Early who decides to drop out of college and move back home. Home as it turns out is haunted. And her and her three friends gotta figure out what the hell is happening.

Now I will say this is set in a small southern town. So the kids all grew up tending the Tabasco fields and Laurel Early enjoys being a taxidermist in her free time. But because of this setting I say it’s a little hard to classify the book- I think this book is more YA Horror than it is fantasy.

There is some magic but it’s just a little. And it’s really loosely explained.

I think the only thing I was disappointed in is that we do get a pretty interesting character who sees visions, etc. and I felt like we didn’t get enough of her!!

There is of course lots of teenage angst, lots of “I don’t want to stay in this small town” versus “the world outside the small town is scary you should stay” arguments.

Overall though - this book is creepy. Some of the decisions they make don’t always make sense. And I wish the magic was maybe more fleshed out.

It is though refreshingly different! I feel like you don’t see too many books in the YA genre like this (or at least I haven’t come upon them yet). It’s got a toned down Stephen King feel to it.