I love Kelly Andrew’s writing. She has this incredible way of telling a story and creating a creepy atmosphere that just sucks you right in. Your Blood, My Bones is no exception.
Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew
Wyatt Westlock has one plan for the farmhouse she's just inherited -- to burn it to the ground. But during her final walkthrough of her childhood home, she makes a shocking discovery in the basement -- 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 Wyatt's parents gone, the spells protecting the property have begun to unravel, and dark, ancient forces gather in the nearby forest. The only way for Wyatt to repair the wards is to work with Peter -- the one person who knows how to harness her volatile magic. But how can she trust a boy who's sworn an oath to destroy her? When the past turns up to haunt them in the most unexpected way, they are forced to rely on one another to survive, or else tear each other apart.
Initial Thoughts
The writing was lyrical, but at the same time very unsettling. I mostly listened to this on audio, and I usually listen to audiobooks before bed. It wasn’t my brightest idea to listen to a horror book as a bedtime story, but the vibes were vibing.
Being stuck in a farmhouse surrounded by creepy cryptids and a boy who wants to kill you is now my worst fear.
Something is missing…
There is one thing I find to be missing in Andrew’s books, more so with Your Blood My Bones than with The Whispering Dark, and that’s worldbuilding.
Both Your Blood My Bones and The Whispering Dark are set in the same world (there’s even a cameo from the characters in TWD), so some of the worldbuilding from The Whispering Dark carries over. But I don’t think it’s enough.
I’m more of a hard magic system, there are rules you need to follow, girlie. And while I get that cryptids and Eldritch beings don’t necessarily follow the rules, I always liked books and shows that brought some order to these things. Take Supernatural, for example. Ghosts hate salt and iron. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where the answer to defeating the ancient evil could be found through some Scooby-sleuthing. I guess I want some of that in Andrew’s work, because she does such a good job at creating the atmosphere. Some additional worldbuilding would completely hook me.
Another thing that bugged me was that Wyatt’s power is never explained, and she goes from not knowing how to use it to using it very quickly. There was no explanation for her father’s magic, the wards, or the cryptids lurking on the farm. I was optimistic when there was mention of her father’s diary, but it’s never utilised.
As Plumbella would say, I am a whore for lore. GIVE ME THE LORE.
I would let James be my sleep-paralysis demon
I really enjoyed the dynamics between Wyatt, Peter, and James. Their friendship runs deep and I liked how it was explored.
My favourite is James (though that might just be the British accent), and I hope we get a future book following him.
My least favourite was unfortunately Wyatt. She doesn’t actively participate in this book at all, she’s just sort of there for the most part. I didn’t feel like she made any compelling discoveries or decisions. Peter is more of a driving force where the plot is concerned, and this is more his book than hers.
Hopefully, we’ll see some more of her in the next book (if we do get a continuation of James’ story).
I received a review copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
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