I received an eARC from the publishers in exchange for a free review. All opinions are my own.
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 doomed.
Release date; July 12th, 2022
Content warnings as provided by author: Some of the thematic material in Wake the Bones involves mental and physical abuse, violence, and suicide. Additionally, the book includes dental trauma, guns, postpartum depression, drug usage, animal death, and blood. Specific content warning for abuse by an alcoholic parent.
Can I give a book 4 stars based entirely on vibes alone? Just watch me.
But seriously, Southern Gothic is a subgenre I adore a lot, so reading it was an absolute delight. If you don't know, Southern Gothic is a mix of fantasy and horror, being watched from the tall grasses on the farm, whispers in the town, something otherworldly in the field, etc. and this book delivered on those vibers perfectly! The writing really sold it. I could feel the humidity and taste the dirt in the air.
I liked the character dynamics even if I wasn't fully invested in the romantic relationships. Laurel has come back to her hometown from her freshman year of college after dropping out and her friends aren't super happy she wasn't able to make it out of their small town. The themes of no longer being children and uncertainty at the future are definitely within these friendship dynamics, which I really liked.
While Laurel is the main POV, we do get POVs of some of her friends, two of whom are gay and are dealing wit their feelings for each other and whether they can survive in their small Southern town. I had no idea there were queer characters in this when I agreed to the eARC, so this was a nicec surprise!
Like I said, I gave this book 4 stars! If you want something spooky for summer, this is it. Just don't read it if you can't handle dead animals, those are very present throughout the novel.
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