Laurel Early is back on her family farm after dropping out of college. She returns to a life of tobacco farming and taxidermy. Along with neighborhood boys Ricky, Garrett, and Isaac, Laurel is set to have another boring summer. Until her pile of discard bones walks away and manifests into a creature from a nightmare. Laurel soon realizes that she is being haunted by an ominous being that knew her mother. It will take the help of the town witch, her crew of friends, and the clues her mother left behind to escape with her life and the farm intact. 

Wake the Bones is a delightful gothic tale of mothers and daughters, twisted magic, and found family. I really enjoyed this debut from Elizabeth Kilcoyne and found it to be a bone-chilling and unputdownable read. At the heart of this tale is found family, chosen people who know us in a way that biological family may refuse. Kilcoyne does an excellent job with sensory details that will send shivers down your spine. I particularly enjoyed Garrett and Isaac’s relationship and the complexities they were dealing with. Readers who enjoyed Summer Sons (Lee Mandelo ) or The Raven Boys (Maggie Stievfater) will definitely relish this horrific walk through the woods. 

Thank you to Elizabeth Kilcoyne, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.