I didn't expect to be sobbing my eyes out on a Saturday morning as I finished reading this book, but there we go. A slobbering mess. Your Blood, My Bones is that book I wish I had written myself. Yeah, it's one of those.  It's an ode to the bittersweet nostalgia. A sort of acceptance and a good-bye to those days gone, to the you that once was, to the possibilities that may have been but never were, not truly. Frankly, I feel like a demon, feeding on tragic love stories. Give me frilly romance and I'll turn my nose up at it. Wrap that romance, true love, into tragic and twisted circumstances, and I'll lap it up and I'll cry while doing it. This book was equal parts horrible, sweet and salvation.
Your Blood, My Bones is quite the dark paranormal story that has an air of romance and horror. Horror more than romance. Romance through horror. But definitely teetering to the horror side more. Ah, you know what, it's all so twisted together like Wyatt, Peter and James. I am truly reluctant to give any further detail about this story than the blurb already reveals - it's best to go into this completely trusting that it will deliver and discover it in its aching inevitability. 
The writing skill Kelly Andrew possesses is a triumph for what this story needed to be like. Without Andrew's chosen words, her particular self, this story could have fallen completely in on itself. Word by word, chapter by chapter, this book teases out strong emotion. Its alternating POVs give insight from Wyatt and Peter - a push and pull relationship where both are hiding secrets from each other. Wyatt, by the way, is a girl. This is not M/M romance, even if Wyatt's name may suggest otherwise. Turns out, Wyatt is considered a gender neutral name and in a sense, there is also a reason why Wyatt was named Wyatt. In addition to making the pages bleed with emotion, Andrew can also write setting... The forests, the evils - ancient and more recent, the visuals of witchy abilities, the curse of immortality, the dark ambition of men thinking they can reap a soul for their own benefit. That's right. This story is more than a childhood friendship turned to love and frustrated teenagers, with slight Peter Pan references thrown in for measure. Dark, twisted, and yet, delightful. 
I mean, anyone who has read this book says they will read everything Kelly Andrew will publish. Yep, me too.

Your Blood, My Bones is a slower but beautiful and emotional read. It’s a story of love and betrayal, filled with secrets and impossible choices. The novel focuses on the deep and complicated relationship between Wyatt, Peter, and James, who used to be inseparable but are now forced to stand against each other. The pace is rather slow, but we get a detailed insight into the characters, their feelings, and the motivation behind their actions. All three of them are nuanced and fascinating.

While various creatures haunt the forest, the characters are mostly trapped in the Westlocks’ cottage, making the atmosphere dark and claustrophobic. There is something unsettling in this story, as secrets and lies come to light, and we cannot be sure who to trust anymore. The novel has elements of gothic and supernatural, as well as some pretty scary scenes. Regardless, it is an emotional, heart-breaking story about love and friendship at its core.

Andrew just knows how to write such great atmosphere and these knotty characters that you relish reading about. This supernaturally tinged Gothic mystery read like a charm with an exploration of untapped power, cyclical violence and the darkness within ourselves.

A dark and twisty gothic horror, Your Blood My Bones is a chilling tale with an intense atmosphere. The plot and character development were gripping, but the writing style was not my favourite. I enjoyed it fine, but I'm not sure it's a book I'd go back to!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Your Blood, My Bones
Fantasy
Kelly Andrew
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

• ʀɪᴛᴜᴀʟꜱ • ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛꜱ • ᴍᴏɴꜱᴛᴇʀꜱ •

This book had a lot of world building and character development right at the start, and so I found the pacing quite slow to begin with, but after a few chapters, it got a lot better.

I liked the dual POVs, and the extra POV towards the end was nice. I wish there was a 3rd POV throughout the book from The Beast or another character.

I liked the writing style, but some of the word choices felt odd. I found I had to look them up, and it happened so often that it pulled me out of the story when it was just unnecessary. For example: "sepulcher", "bucolic", "camphoraceous" (although this 100% depends on the reader 😅).

I loved the plot and the characters themselves. They were relatable and likeable, but they had flaws and their own demons to face. My heart broke for Peter and what he had endured for all those years. I wish he could've found peace in some way.

The plot twists were great, although I did manage to predict a few.

The creatures in the woods and The Beast made me so curious. I wanted to know even more about them and their origins, etc.

The atmosphere was great. It was tense, full of longing and desire. There was cruelty, but there was also a sense of hope.

This book gave me similar vibes to The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue in the sense that multiple lives are lived across hundreds of years, all because of a misspoken bargain.

I haven't read any other books by this author before, but I definitely will now.

*Thank you to @Netgalley, the author, and the publishers for providing this ARC. This is my own opinion and an honest review, which I am leaving voluntarily*

Title: Your Blood, My Bones By Kelly Andrew

Release Date: April,2nd 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars

Wyatt Westlock inherits her childhood farmhouse with one intention: to burn it down. However, during a final walkthrough, she discovers her former best friend, Peter, chained in the basement, having suffered countless ritualistic deaths on the property. Peter, semi-immortal and bound to the farm, needs to end the Westlock lineage to break free. As dark forces gather and Wyatt's parents' protective spells weaken, they must work together to repair the wards. Despite their history and Peter's oath to kill Wyatt, they must rely on each other to survive when the past resurfaces unexpectedly.

"Your Blood, My Bones" by Kelly Andrew is an intense and gripping read that delves deep into themes of loyalty, fate, and the darkest aspects of human nature. This is a captivating tale that blends twisted romance with dark fantasy elements.

The intricate bond shared between Wyatt and Peter, entwined with themes of love and friendship between Wyatt, Peter and James, enriches the storyline.

Kelly Andrew navigates dark magic, death, and resuscitation, immersing readers in a haunting and intriguing world. With unexpected twists and turns, the story kept me engaged until the gripping conclusion.

Tropes:

Dark Fantasy
Twisted Romance
Forbidden Love
Immortality
Friendship
Magic and Witchcraft
Gothic Atmosphere

Thank you to Orion Publishing Group | Gollancz, The author Kelly Andrew & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this.

Your Blood, My Bones had some brilliant gothic, eldritch vibes centering on Peter/Pedyr, Wyatt and James. A trio of unlikely friends who were thrust together every summer until Wyatt was dragged away by her mother.

Years later Wyatt gets a letter from her father and returns to Willow Heath. What she finds makes her question everything she ever knew about Peter, James and herself. She finds herself with more questions than answers and what is skulking around in the forest surrounding the little homestead?

I loved the references to Peter Pan. Peter and James and the cat, Slightly.

It was a really great book. The writing is fantastic, the author’s ability to set a visual scene and to create unsettling and creeping dread is really good.

The novel is a character-driven story, and the three protagonists created are the beating heart of the narrative. Their characters development with intricate backstories, their relationships and inner conflicts are just beautifully crafted, that just pulls you deeper into every page.

The plot is rich with mystery and supernatural elements that were expertly interwoven. Overall, “Your Blood, My Bones” is a fantastic book, that leaves you on the edge of your set, pulls at your heartstrings. I really enjoy it.

Arc generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I had loved The Whispering Dark and couldn't wait to read Your Blood, My Bones.
Once again, I absolutely loved the writing which is both beautiful and raw.
The characters are so well developed: they're flawed and they're unique. I loved the trio Peter, James & Wyatt.
In the first half, I sometimes felt the lack of draw, of purpose though. They actually have something to deal with, but they were so much "in their heads" I missed the point sometimes. The main reason is the rhythm that, in my opinion, goes like this for each chapter: a slow beginning, descriptions and feelings. Then something happens, it is usually gripping and exciting and ends on a sort of cliffhanger…but the next chapter doesn't start right where the rush ended. And it slows again and so on. I can't say I loved that aspect. Despite being interesting I usually didn't read a lot of chapters in a row and sometimes even felt frustrated.
That being said, the Gothic vibes, the darkness (far darker that I anticipated) and the beautiful writing made it a very good book for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

If I was going to give this book a different title, it would certainly be American Gothic. This was such a fun, creepy little book, with just the right amount of heartbreak and magic. I thoroughly enjoyed it, much more than I expected to. FMC Wyatt is headstrong and has one foot stuck in the past. MMC Peter has lived hundreds of lives and yet he's the oldest he's ever been. This was a book that straddles multiple genres - magical realism, thriller, horror. The vibes are honestly immaculate. If you enjoyed Andrew's first book The Whispering Dark, keep an eye out for some familiar faces too.

Recommended for any who loved Mexican Gothic, Ninth House, A Study in Drowning

THANK YOU NETGALLERY AND TO THE PUBLISHER FOR THE ARC

I want to preface this review by saying this book’s premise was amazing, and Kelly is an excellent writer. IF YOU LOVE BOOKS THAT ARE GOTHIC AND PAINFUL WITH HEAVY BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER UNDERTONES, then you will enjoy this book. (EMPHASIS ON SPIKE AND BUFFY’S RELATIONSHIP: YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. OH, KELLY ANDREW, WHEN I CATCH YOU, WHEN I CATCH YOU! I highly encourage others to read this book.

On first read, it was 3.75, and I was not sure if I could round this up to four or let it be three stars. Four, because in terms of writing, horror atmosphere, themes, and relationship arcs of characters, Three: loose ends, unanswered questions surrounding the cult and Westlock magic, illogical jumps, character regression at points, and the interjection of secondary characters.

I am going to give it a tentative four because I can accept that, just like Buffy, this story’s magic and horror elements are centred on metaphorical and philosophical purposes rather than logical lore. I will outline below why it deserves a four, but I will also outline why this book could equally well be a three. My critique portion of the review will contain spoilers.

The book is centred on two characters, Wyatt and Peter (his true name is Pedyr, but I will refer to her as Peter). Wyatt’s father has recently died, and Wyatt sets out to her family farm to burn the place down. She discovers that her childhood friend (and first love), Peter, is tied up in her house. For years her father and his friends were part of a religious cult that used Peter as a sacrificial lamb, killing him over and over again to ward off the dark beasts that lurk in the forest. He is an immortal being resurrected many times and is now set on doing whatever it takes to go back to his original home. This means killing Wyatt Westwood to offer up to the beast. Both of these characters are set in a purgatory state, stuck with the eternal decision: kill or be killed.

What I liked about the book

Relationship between Peter and Wyatt

The relationship between Peter and Wyatt is the highlight of this book. I am a sucker for the childhood friends to crushes trope. (I have no idea why this book is being marketed as an enemy to lover—what a disservice). Peter and Wyatt’s relationship contains a lot of tenderness but also a lot of resentment, as they both feel let down and essentially abandoned by each other. Even while these two are contemplating whether to kill the other or not, Kelly is able to very effectively depict the internal conflicts of the other. Some may call their arguments repetitive, but that is the point of the book: they are stuck in a personal purgatory, trying to emotionally untangle which road—do they choose themselves or others? The intimate moments between them were so good and were the little gems of the book. I was rooting for both of them throughout the book (impossible, I know), and individually, both of these characters tragic backstories were interesting to explore.

Relationship between Peter, Wyatt, and James

Surprisingly, James added a welcome dimension to the friendship. James Campbell is the third friend who forms their trio and is both the protector and aggravator within the book. I am so glad that Kelly did not go through the classic love triangle route with both boys fighting over the girls and instead added layers and complexity to how friendship and love can form between friends.

Horror and prose

Kelly Alexendar is talking about very heavy topics—childhood abuse, violence, black magic, cults, and dark beasts—and she does it with style and finesse. Her beautiful prose is a testament to her skill, It was both haunting, thrilling and descriptive but also moving. You definitely feel the sense of despair and tragedy that is laced throughout the book.

The ending of the book

Kelly Andrew, I know you wrote Buffy fanfiction when you were younger. Don't lie to me! If you have watched the last episode of Buffy, prepare yourself. That’s all. The ending was the right ending for this book, and honestly, I think it was not only what saved the book but also the entire point of the book. Like the guy who played Dan in One Tree Hill said, Keith dying was what saved that show. Same here. You are so swept away by the emotional tragedy and poetry of it all that you forget about all the unanswered questions and loopholes.

Why I was thinking of giving this book a three: it contains spoilers.
Wyatt’s story doesn’t make sense, and she sometimes lacked agency as a character.

Right so Wyatt has plausible deniability that she didn’t know Peter was being abused (a little sus because Wyatt knew all those adult men would lock themselves in a room with Peter—but she was a child, so okay). You are telling me her mother never thought to prepare her for the possibility of this occurring? What is the truth about her father? Just letting her walk straight back into all of this? OKAY. How did they even know Wyatt would come back? I guess eventually she would, but she equally could have decided to forget the farm and leave it in the past. Wyatt did not talk to her father for years, but if it is not about the abuse (as she didn’t know about it), it is hard to discern why she had such a deep-rooted hatred for her father. Why would the cult poison Wyatt’s dad if they had no idea about their magic and thought girls were useless? Were they just going to keep her chained up the whole time? Why didn’t they do it beforehand?

Consequently, Wyatt's reaction to finding Peter CHAINED to the bottom of the house was, um, bizarre to me. I guess she is in shock, but the fact that we never truly dove into how these changes her perception of her parents, particularly of her mother (I’m sorry, I really don’t like this woman), doesn’t feel logical. I honestly laughed out loud when Wyatt’s mom said she would never hide James’s death from her; she would “never do that to her." HELLO YOU DID NOT TELL HER THAT HER BEST FRIEND WAS BEING TORTURED BY YOUR HUSBAND AND HIS FRIENDS- YOU ARE CAPABLE OF HIDING ANYTHING.

Also, the way she just kind of accepted the explanations of every character of what is happening, particularly that either herself or Peter will have to die and there is no way for them to both survive, was frustrating. She is learning all these things about herself and her magic, but she is in such a state of denial throughout the whole book. ( HOW BUFFY OF HER). I felt let down at the progression of Wyatt’s magic and also at how it evolved throughout the book—a bit of a letdown, especially in how it works—does it rot things? Does it grow things? How does this all work? Where does it originate from? WHAT IS THE WESTLOCK LORE? I think it actually served as a detriment to the ending of the book, especially because.

Wyatt doesn’t choose to kill Peter.

I know this is a personal preference, and some people will love that Wyatt is tricked into essentially sacrificing Peter. But to me, this is a cop-out. The whole reason the beast wanted Wyatt to kill Peter was because the sacrifice would be harrowing and tragic for someone who loved the sacrifice. But it is sacrifice. If the person making the sacrifice doesn’t know they are doing this, To me, Wyatt started this story in the dark, controlled by other characters, and she sort of ended it in the same way. Think about Jon and Danerys or Buffy and Angel; those killings were haunting because you could see the characters coming to a self-realisation of what they had to do and the guilt they would carry. We are robbed of that moment with Wyatt.

Peter’s feelings and POV

I loved Peter’s perspective and POV. But once Peter made the decision essentially to sacrifice himself for Wyatt, I felt like we lost the complexity of his feelings, his emotions became more obscure, and his thoughts became more narrative. I did love the part where he said that Wyatt was actually his home, but I dunno, I felt like even in his POV he wasn’t revealing all his thoughts and emotions. Was he scared to die? Did he believe in the afterlife? I dunno—I wanted more of his emotions; this man is about to die! Or maybe a bit more internal pining for Wyatt and a normal life where he could live.

Mackenzie and Salem

When we suddenly left the farm to go on this Scooby Doobie Doo investigation journey, I was aggravated. I felt we lost all sense of immediacy, atmosphere, and frankly, intimacy between the central characters—Wyatt, James, and Peter. I get that Mackenzie and Lane are from other books by this author, but I didn’t know this, and honestly, I did not care. It was jarring. Also, I found the descriptions and the world of Salem dull. How is this the dull portion of the book? Peter claims that he has never left the farm because he is bound to it because of the beast, but now he is off on a road trip on the hunch that they will be able to talk to James. Urgh. It felt so chaotic because the whole point of the book was supposed to be that these two characters are stuck with this horrible decision and cannot truly leave until they do, but this kind of took the book on a left turn. Also, they all just sent Wyatt off on their way back to the farm. tragic. This poor girl really has no one in her corner except the guy who wants to kill her.

Bone Magic and the Forest

I had a whole issue with what exactly lies in the forest, but I can accept that this is open-ended. What I cannot accept is this bone-magic portion. So, if Peter has different graves, does he have different bodies? Does he age? How does he age? What is his body made out of? Why didn’t Wyatt notice any differences in her friend’s physicality? It didn’t make sense to me—perhaps I was just too stupid to understand.

The cult and the ending of the book

Even though this book’s central issues are based on the actions of the cult, they are not present in the book at all. Instead, they suddenly pop up like cartoon villains at the end of the book when they realise what Wyatt has done and the power she has. James’s father has the arrogance to say they were holding back until the boy had “enacted his plan." HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THAT PETER WOULD NOT ACTUALLY KILL WYATT? Is this because Wyatt’s father believed that Peter’s love and humanity for Wyatt would outweigh his sense of self-preservation? Considering this is a centuries-old cult, this is a huge leap of logic and a mighty risky gamble. I just don’t buy it. They didn’t see Peter as a human being anyway but as an object, so why would they believe he would save Wyatt? And honestly, James coming and stabbing his father and Peter would fit a TV episode, but in terms of the book and plot progression, why is this a finale scene? It really took Peter dying for me, because these characters were being introduced directly out of nowhere instead of being baked into the conflicts within the story.

I nearly wrote myself into a three-star review there, but the writing is so good, I will give it a four. I will read more books from this author.

I genuinely really enjoyed this. The writing itself is beautiful and very lyrical. Your Blood My Bones does occasionally fall into the trap a lot of horror stories fall into where plot details are sacrificed in favour of atmosphere. The plot twist at the end, for example, was almost mentioned outright during the middle of the novel so I wasn’t surprised by it at all. Some things didn’t entirely make sense, and I do think the narrative tripped itself up on several occasions. But I almost didn’t care about this because of how invested I was in the world and the characters! This is a great horror story that draws on fairytale and folklore in a really interesting way. I would definitely recommend it to horror enthusiasts!

I really enjoyed @kayaydrew's debut when it fell through my letterbox a surprise in my Illumicrate box so when I spotted this I immediately requested it!

This is wilder, darker, and just as haunting as the first book, set in the same universe there's a feral edge to this story that saws through you as the claustrophobic trap of Willow Heath draws tight around Wyatt and Peter.

Estranged from her father, Wyatt (he named her after himself 🤦🏻‍♀️) returns to her childhood home intent on burning it down after his death.
She doesn't expect to find Peter, the boy she once considered her best friend, strung up in chains and left for dead.

Unbeknownst to Wyatt, Peter has suffered hundreds of ritualistic deaths on her family's property. Semi-immortal, Peter never remains dead for long, but he can't really live, either. Not while he's bound to the farm, locked in a cycle of grisly deaths and painful rebirths. There's only one way for him to break free. He needs to end the Westlock line.

He needs to kill Wyatt.

With dark for es closing in around them both Wyatt and Peter face the darkest parts of themselves and the vicious creatures that are encroaching on their home. Their relationship is twisting, fraught and delicate but grows forged in hell into something else as truths are revealed.

I loved the third wheel but intrinsic cog in the their childhood trio James who is a complex and discordant presence, and just as hurt and damaged by his parent as Wyatt and Peter.

The ending is devastating and visceral even as it delivers justice.

This is a haunting gothic romance and honestly, I read it in a day. Please keep writing your weird dark little stories, Kelly

Fantasy horror story. I wasn’t sure exactly what was going on at the beginning of the story. But as I read the story became clear, and I really started to enjoy the book. I think the title is perfect. Thank you to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝐵𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑, 𝑀𝑦 𝐵𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠 | 𝐾𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑤 | 𝟒*

𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑠
Wyatt Westlock has one plan for the farmhouse she just inherited: burn it down. However, when she gets there she finds her childhood best friend in chains in the basement and discovers he’s semi-immortal… and it’s her family that’s been endlessly killing him.

𝑇𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑇𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑠
❥ romantic horror
❥ childhood best friends to lovers
❥ loyalty & sacrifice
❥ rituals
❥ dual POV

𝐿𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑑
Your Blood, My Bones is a creepy, dark, and beautifully hideous romantic horror exploring loyalty and sacrifice, mainly through the characters of Wyatt and Peter. From the first chapter, the writing sets the tone with a twisted grisly sort of beauty that is difficult not to recoil from but also difficult not to love.

I thought that this book was more twisted than I thought could be possible and honestly, that’s what makes it so great. The characters did not shy away from any of the horrors that are inflicted upon them and I loved them for that reason. Even if Wyatt is angry and ridiculous. And even if Peter is subdued and secretive.

What I did not expect was for Lane to make an appearance! As the main character in The Whispering Dark, I love how the author has connected these two stories, setting YBMB in the same world as TWD: a microcosm where characters whisper to the dark, and the dark answers back.

Tragic, shudder-inducing, and deeply unsettling, this book is an impeccably written guarantee of emotional provocation in any horror fans.

𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑑
Same with The Whispering Dark—although on a lesser scale—I find myself with unanswered questions. The plot feels ever so slightly messy and I need more clarity on certain plot points.

𝐹𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑄𝑢𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑠
“𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥,” 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘸𝘳𝘺𝘭𝘺. “𝘔𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘺.”

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳. 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘚𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦. 𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬.”

“𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰?”
“𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴.”
“𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦,” 𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥. “𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭. 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵.”

“𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥𝘺. 𝘈𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘯.”

Rating: 4.75/5⭐️

This book! Kelly surely knows her way with words and is so talented to bring us right into the middle of any scene she writes! I believe that after Your Blood, My Bones (and most certainly after The Whispering dark - whom I’m almost reading for the 3rd time!), I will read anything Kelly writes! Her books definitely defy what I usually am inclined to read and I love them every time!

Your Blood, My Bones bring us to this horror light academia fantasy that is so captivating, I couldn’t stop reading - even if I wanted! It’s macabre, it’s complex and richly scary in parts: I loved it! All characters are their own, with their own complexities and traumas (Wyatt, Peter and James are such an interesting trio). The plot is incredibly captivating, with its horrish details and heartbreaking outcomes, this is definitely a tale about love, loyalty and finding ourselves amid the darkest parts of our journeys.

I particularly loved a special appearance (and therefore, need to read the whispering dark one more time!) and the only reason this was not a full big 5⭐️ for me was due to the end… Blame the romantic in me, that although I knew there was no other possible outcome and it’s indeed the most fair outcome, I still hoped for that ‘Happily Ever After’… Regardless, I am very likely to pick up this book again for a reread!

I really loved Kelly Andrew’s debut The Whispering Dark so I was excited to read this one.

It didn’t disappoint in any way! I was immediately drawn into the creepy atmosphere and deepening mystery.

Wyatt is an intriguing character from the start. Her backstory is revealed gradually and I loved the idea of her growing up on the farm with the boys each summer.

The relationships and dynamics between the three main characters were absolutely my favourite part of this book, and the sense of sinister, malevolent evil always present made this such an enjoyable read.

I highly recommend this book!

Wyatt Westlock is ready to burn her inheritance to the ground, but when she walks through her family home one last time, she makes a horrific discovery. In the basement, she finds her childhood friend in chains. Peter is immortal but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t died many times over. To earn his freedom, Peter must kill Wyatt.

Your Blood, My Bones is tragic tale told in beautiful, creepy prose, in what we are fast learning is Kelly Andrew’s signature style. It’s a slow burn story, exploring her relationship with the two boys she grew up with, while she was kept in the dark about what her family were really doing.

The Westlock estate has been protected by wards for centuries, Peter’s unwilling sacrifices key to keeping darkness at bay. But now the wards are coming apart and Wyatt doesn’t know how to fix them, not when the secret to her family’s magic was never shared with her. So she has to turn to the boy who has vowed to kill her.

Full of dark magic, it’s also one to add to the small but growing collection of mushroom horror, with just a touch of it creeping it at the edges.

This is set in the same world as The Whispering Dark, with a little bit of character overlap so be aware it might contain spoilers. Up until the point those characters appeared I didn’t get the feeling it was the same world though, so I’m not entirely sure about that aspect. I did prefer her debut just a little bit more, but this was still a satisfying read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Your Blood, My Bones' by Kelly Andrew.

Kelly Andrew could publish a shopping list and I'd be happy. 'Your Blood, My Bones' feels like a book perfect to read in the gloomy autumn season with a mixture of great characters and worldbuilding with Andrew's stunning writing style. Although the romance in this horror is meant to be a slow burn, the book doesn't drag on like some slow burns do which was an absolute joy. Andrew is definitely carving a name for herself in this genre.

This. Book. Was absolutely phenomenal. I'm once again blown away by Kelly's writing- I'm trying to articulate this in a way that gives enough credit to it but alas, I am not a writer so this review is going to hinge on hopes and dreams and vibes.
I went into this book with a vague idea of what it's about- a trio, something in the woods, and that's literally it. And- yes we did get this- but it was SO much more. Why was I there at the end kinda grieving the loss of Willow Heath...... like hello????? 300 pages is all it took to stitch these characters and this place into my heart and make it feel oh so real (it was much less than that, I knew this book was going to become part of my personality after just the first chapter but I digress).

Anyways- the writing: wowowowowoow!! wow!!! From the forest, to the monsters lurking between its branches, to the complicated relationship she had with her dad ;her relationship to each of the boys (and them as a trio), to nature and her abilities- the writing was consistently lovely and horrifying all at once. It wrapped the tenderness of their first kiss in the anxious inevitability of their situation, and ribboned it off with the backdrop of the home that was also a grave for who they were and could have been. The way we say goodbye to different characters than we were introduced to when the story began- the amount of development, and untangling of long buried feelings, the dynamics shifting and evolving as the characters do- I'm feeling very big feelings right now. I love how their relationship (between each character and as a group) always felt slightly edged- even when they were bantering, or reminiscing, or having soft moments, it always felt like they were toeing the line of complete collapse. Like they're always just seconds away from disaster. It made for a desperately claustrophobic but also gut wrenchingly tender dynamic where they literally were the best and worst of and for each other. The way they're each trying to dissect who the other really is based on who they remember them being and who they're facing rn- the way these feelings were articulated makes me want to throw up (in a good way). OH AND THE PETER PAN INFLUENCES?!!!!!! No because she didn't just eat these up- she devoured!!!!! Their thing being him climbing up through her window and asking her to tell him a story?????? Just falling asleep listening to her talk????? When I say I bawled- and then when that came full circle because of course it did, when he asks her for a story and the happy ending is just them seeing the age of old and grey....*screams into the void*

“I thought maybe I could take some of the weight for you. I thought that, in spite of everything, we could kick our way out of this together. But it’s too heavy, Peter. You’re too heavy. You’re drowning me.” The way this line has me so unbelievably GAGGED!!

"He didn’t know how to tell her that she wouldn’t find a thing—didn’t know how to explain that all his hurts were packed inside, festering where no one else could see." - no one knows how I sobbed.

"But she couldn’t take another minute of lying there alone, her insides rotting. She wanted to be held." And she's honestly so real for this.

The characters- now, where do I even start with this :') It's interesting because you go into a book expecting to like the main characters and dislike the villain and yet here I am, deadlocked in a grey are where I love them and also think they probably could've lived very fulfilling lives if they had never met.
"The slipshod stitching on Peter’s abdomen was raw and angry. It matched her own, the scarring on her belly gone pink with scabs. It matched James, too, his torso pieced together like patchwork. They were the same, inside and out."
James thinking of them as belonging to him- pocketing them along with a stolen lighter and handfuls of sweets. This? Is most definitely not a healthy way to think of your friends and YET I found myself wanting to sob because all he wanted was something that was all his to take care of and find joy in-no strings attached. So yes it's slightly twisted and not healthy but he was also very much ready to and some may say he really did protect them with his life. Wyatt- my fave girl. She really was fighting for her life this whole book- growing up thinking that all she did was make things rot and ruin, and still gripping to her dreams with both sticky hands because she didn't want to be that- she wanted her happy ending and she wanted it with her friends. Head in the clouds and heart on her sleeve- I love her so much. And yes she was petulant at times, and needs therapy desperately, but she really just wanted to be happy and not have to stress about real life, and if that isn't reasonable idk what is. And Pedyr- my love, "...the little lost boy of Willow Heath. Pale and quiet as a ghost. Underfoot in a house stuffed full of strangers, never quite sure which of them he belonged to. If he belonged to anyone at all, or if he’d just appeared one day, small and angry and rooting through the kitchen cabinets." I COULD SOB! I DID SOB!!! A LOT!! (I had to rehydrate at the end of this book lmao I am not okay). The way he just wanted to go home? Just wanted A home???? He just wanted to hug his mum again and not be treated like a specimen? He just wanted to see past 18???? LIKE?!!!!! WHAT DID HE DO TO DESERVE THIS???? Honestly, bro shutting down whenever there's confrontation is so me, and tbh I could say things about his problem solving skills and communication or lack thereof but I'm not going to because he can do no wrong.
"A marble boy, mired in his own personal mausoleum. Her starved god. Her secret saint. Her killer. His hands were balled in trembling fists. A single tear tracked down the side of his face. He let it fall." AND WHAT IF I WAS NEVER OKAY AGAIN?!!!!
My point? who knows- but these characters are so complicated, so REAL, so very human that you can't help but love them and root for them even when one of them isn't himself and the other wants to murder his first love. They're working on it. It was so clearly a group who were thrown together by awful circumstance and forced to survive with and despite each other.
"The three of them grew together after that. It was impossible not to. They sprouted up much in the way trees did—first alongside one another, and then twined all together, their branches entangled.....Inosculation, where the trunks of multiple trees grew so close together that they grafted into one. That was them, he’d thought....He, Peter, and Wyatt, their roots so intricately knotted that none of them could tell where one of them ended and the other began."

The horror was of course- SO GOOD!! So creepy, so awful, but never in a corny way???? Like- just the mimic banging on the door over and over again had my stomach turning and we didn't even see the thing when it was doing that.
"She grappled for her cell phone in her pocket, flicking on the flashlight and raising it in front of her. A face lit silver mere inches from her own. It peered at her out of a keenly humanoid stare, its smile split from ear to ear. With a scream, she dropped her phone." So simply, but so effective- I'm not a horror reader but when it's a Kelly Andrew book I absolutely am. The descriptions of Wyatt's abilities was also so so so stunning - I freaking love how vivid they were, how they linked to her emotions - it was such a joy to read those scenes. That the natural manifestation of her emotions didn't always feel perfectly in line with what she was feeling which is such a fab little detail because it just adds another layer of complication into an already immensely complicated emotional stew that is these three characters.

I don't have a separate point here I just wanted to have this quote in my review because are we joking-
"She thought of him out in the hen yard, naming all the chickens. The way the goat followed him from room to room, chewing at his sleeves. The way he’d sharpened himself into something cruel, to hide the fact that all he wanted was someplace soft to land." Like- He literally just wanted a peaceful little life and I'm bawling again teehee

I also wouldn't be me if I didn't take a second to discuss how completely ruined this romance has left my poor, fragile heart.
Exhibits A through H:

"He didn’t hate her. He loved her so much that it was like holding his heart outside of his body.” I'd like to know what I did to deserve this kind of suffering-

"He felt her presence like a bruise, as though she’d been beaten into his bones."

"He tasted like tragedy."

'“I’ll follow you. If you leave, I’ll come after you."........He felt like he was being cracked open. Ribs split, his chest scooped hollow. He’d been pulled apart in so many ways, snapped and broken at the whims of men. None of it felt like this.'

"He would never forget the look in her eyes, even when all that was left was darkness. Even when the world burned."

“Horrible,” he agreed. “Beautiful. Perfect.” - this line- yeah this one really got me- LORD

"Loving Peter had always felt a little bit like poking at a bruise. Impossible to stop, even when it hurt. But nothing had ever hurt quite as badly as this—kissing him at the world’s end, surrounded by a living monument to all their wasted time."- I'm crying again LMAO

"Dahlia, you'll be okay." girl- she might be BUT I WILL NEVER BE AGAIN

Idk how she - and this is really the only appropriate word I can think of for how they make me feel- makes her romances sO viscerally gut wrenching like?? Not even joking anymore when I say I feel SICK lol,, Need I say more..?? no. ok,

ANYWAYS- onto more joyous things- the TWD cameo in this one was actually everything I deserved after this heartbreak- I also love how strategically it was placed in the timeline like here have this gem go giggle and kick your feet and cry happy tears oop no there goes your emotional equilibrium forever :D Like she really knew I would need all the emotional fortitude I could GET to prepare me for the last 1/3 of this book lmao - but it was so good to see my parents still alive and kicking- the "Lane is dating her sleep paralysis demon" line made me CACKLE- I really do love them with all my heart- the way his whole demeanour softened and he smiled when he called her Wednesday??? I might recover from this after all (I won't).

To conclude- I seriously haven't felt this gutted since I read Clockwork Princess back in 2020 (its been 4 years and I wish I was exaggerating when I say I cannot read any scene that mentioned Will without bursting into tears to this day) and that is honestly- standing ovation because I'm a crybaby but I also get over things super fast and I do not see myself moving past this for a very long time. I loved this book, I loved the story, I literally cannot think of a single thing I would change or wished was different. It's the perfect book. It did what it needed to do and I'm honestly so grateful - I'll hold this book very very close to my heart <3

P.S. I will literally (I'm so serious) never recover from "He smiled ruefully. 'Side by side?' 'Old and grey.'" This feels like when Noah Kahan said I wanna love you till we're food for the worms to eat, till our fingers decompose, keep my hand in yours- yeah, that's- I'm gonna go cry again. THE FACT THAT THIS WAS THE HAPPY STORY HE ASKED FOR?!!!! Goodbye I can't-

P.P.S. this is so random but the description "taller than a man. narrower than a root." has stuck in my brain and it's terrifying a I freaking love it (I also hate it bc tHERE's an image lmao).