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When Bones Whisper: A Gothic Horror Romance
Not yet published
Expected 28 Oct 25It’s not just the dead that are haunting Charlotte Lovett.
When horrifying things begin happening after the slaughter of her entire family, Charlotte turns to the only thing she vowed never to use—sacrificial magic. But the moment she uses it to free herself of one threat, another comes to take her captive in the night.
Quickly, Charlotte finds herself thrust into a dark, paranormal world where childhood games turn deadly, massacres masquerade as lavish balls, and the barrier between the living and dead is easily transgressed.
Trapped in the center of a deadly plot between three paranormal forces that all want her dead, Charlotte must find a way to save herself, even if it means opening her heart to the darkness she’s trying to escape.
When horrifying things begin happening after the slaughter of her entire family, Charlotte turns to the only thing she vowed never to use—sacrificial magic. But the moment she uses it to free herself of one threat, another comes to take her captive in the night.
Quickly, Charlotte finds herself thrust into a dark, paranormal world where childhood games turn deadly, massacres masquerade as lavish balls, and the barrier between the living and dead is easily transgressed.
Trapped in the center of a deadly plot between three paranormal forces that all want her dead, Charlotte must find a way to save herself, even if it means opening her heart to the darkness she’s trying to escape.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 28, 2025
202 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca L. Garcia
20 books78 followersRebecca writes dark fantasy romance, usually with gothic elements and always with morally gray characters. Originally from England, she lives in Texas with her husband, and two sons. She loves anything with enemies to lovers, slow burn, and lots of angst.
Find out more about Rebecca and check out her books here:
Website: www.rebeccagarciabooks.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rebeccalgarciabooks
Find out more about Rebecca and check out her books here:
Website: www.rebeccagarciabooks.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rebeccalgarciabooks
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 12, 2025
ᝰ. 3.25 ✰
This is pitched to fans of Nightshade (one of my favourite books), but I didn’t find it similar to Keri Lake. I would say the vibes/style reminded me more of Kaylie Smith’s Phantasma. Not a bad thing, just putting it out there in case you go in with certain expectations.
I liked the gothic vibes and atmospheric setting, but my favourite part of the book was the MMC, Nathaniel (to be fair, I love anything vampires). I also thought the romance was pretty good and appreciated that it was a slower burn and had tension.
Where the book struggled was in the plot and writing. The paranormal elements were interesting, but needed tighter execution. The plot was convoluted at times, and the writing leaned more towards telling than showing, with some parts feeling repetitive. With more focus on polishing the writing and plot, this could be really great.
Overall, it was still enjoyable and entertaining. I would recommend checking this out if you’re looking for a short, gothic paranormal romance with vampires and witches.
This is pitched to fans of Nightshade (one of my favourite books), but I didn’t find it similar to Keri Lake. I would say the vibes/style reminded me more of Kaylie Smith’s Phantasma. Not a bad thing, just putting it out there in case you go in with certain expectations.
I liked the gothic vibes and atmospheric setting, but my favourite part of the book was the MMC, Nathaniel (to be fair, I love anything vampires). I also thought the romance was pretty good and appreciated that it was a slower burn and had tension.
Where the book struggled was in the plot and writing. The paranormal elements were interesting, but needed tighter execution. The plot was convoluted at times, and the writing leaned more towards telling than showing, with some parts feeling repetitive. With more focus on polishing the writing and plot, this could be really great.
Overall, it was still enjoyable and entertaining. I would recommend checking this out if you’re looking for a short, gothic paranormal romance with vampires and witches.
October 17, 2025
If you like The Vampire Diaries or The Originals, you're probably going to enjoy this paranormal romantasy book. There are vampires, witches, demons, ghosts, necromancy, curses, and of course, Duke, Charlotte’s familiar!
Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of When Bones Whisper by Rebecca L. Garcia, to be published on October 28th, 2025.
Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of When Bones Whisper by Rebecca L. Garcia, to be published on October 28th, 2025.
October 14, 2025
Ever since I saw this book was coming, I’ve been waiting for it — and it was absolutely worth it.
Haunting, emotional, and beautifully written, When Bone Whispers wraps grief, love, and mystery into one unforgettable story. The writing feels like poetry — soft, eerie, and full of heartache.
It’s the kind of story that whispers to you long after you’ve finished reading.
Thank you so much author for the Arc. Truly grateful to have been given the chance to read this ARC early.
Haunting, emotional, and beautifully written, When Bone Whispers wraps grief, love, and mystery into one unforgettable story. The writing feels like poetry — soft, eerie, and full of heartache.
It’s the kind of story that whispers to you long after you’ve finished reading.
Thank you so much author for the Arc. Truly grateful to have been given the chance to read this ARC early.
October 9, 2025
“for fans of nightshade” hell YEAH 🚬
October 12, 2025
[NetGalley e-arc]
Characters - 3/5
Romance - 2/5
Plot - 2/5
Writing - 2/5
When Bones Whisper has a lot of potential; there is so much here that could make for a genuinely moving story with a few re-writes. It is all the more unfortunate therefore that my overwhelming feeling post-read is that this a very average run-of-the-mill fantasy romance. Let’s go from best to worst:
1. The characters - Duke (cat) is undeniably my absolute favourite character in the story, he made me realise how much more cat representation I need in fantasy. Nathaniel (our MMC) is actually a really sweet character - devoid of a lot of the usual icks I have for omnipotent and omnipresent 300 yr old vampires. Charlotte (our FMC) definitely falls prey to my above observation of unfulfilled potential; her backstory is so tragic & there are some genuinely good moments of reflection on her grief, her trauma & her hope. That being said, it just didn’t hold the weight I needed it to - ultimately a fault of the oftentimes clumsy and tiresome prose.
2. The romance - yes it was cute, yes it worked. For me it was a 2/5 simply because it held no real impact beyond what we already know works when reading romance (forced proximity, hurt/comfort, protective MMC, 3-4/5 smut level, etc etc). Did I feel they had a special bond? An understanding of each other that bread real connection and meaning? A relationship that could last more than a few weeks? My brutally honest feeling after finishing this is - MEh, maybe, i have no strong feelings either way. And the enemy of emotion is apathy!
3. The setting - listen I’m going to be picky about this since I am a British citizen with a history degree. The author does give a disclaimer that this is written in American English and not historically accurate. I understand this & I chose to forgive the fact that the dialogue felt like anyone could suddenly shout out ‘BRO DUDE HELLA DOPE’ and it would not have been out of place. This book could have easily been set in America and it would have had absolutely no impact on my mental image of the setting. It feels so intensely UN-London-y and UN-Victorian. Which is a problem. Maybe the only time i was reminded that this was supposed to be LONDON was when the Thames was mentioned. Like once. Also - small note - never have i ever in my 22 years in England seen a cockroach (though benefit of the doubt google says they do exist in the UK).
4. The writing - this was definitely the book’s weakest point. The prose was clunky a lot of the time with lots of repetition (take a shot for every ‘dark wet curl’ mentioned) - bear in mind though I was reading the unproofed e-arc edition, so how much of that finds itself into the final published version I cannot say. A more pressing overarching issue was the pacing. When Bones Whisper finds itself unable to maintain any of its much needed momentum/rhythm/tension because things just happen at the wrong times! Endless stretches of dialogue happen at moments that should be the most fast paced; moments of exposition spontaneously occur with no built-up or pay-off; descriptive scenes meander on for no particular reason. Again, these are things that I genuinely believe one big-redraft could have absolutely solved.
Listen, overall, this book has some genuinely lovely, interesting, and complex themes weaved throughout the story. I did not HATE anything about this work; I have absolutely no qualms about DNFing a book I find unenjoyable & I made it all the way through this. I just have no strong feeling apart from regret over what this COULD have been. If the premise interests you - it is still worth reading, just maybe bear in mind all the above.
Characters - 3/5
Romance - 2/5
Plot - 2/5
Writing - 2/5
When Bones Whisper has a lot of potential; there is so much here that could make for a genuinely moving story with a few re-writes. It is all the more unfortunate therefore that my overwhelming feeling post-read is that this a very average run-of-the-mill fantasy romance. Let’s go from best to worst:
1. The characters - Duke (cat) is undeniably my absolute favourite character in the story, he made me realise how much more cat representation I need in fantasy. Nathaniel (our MMC) is actually a really sweet character - devoid of a lot of the usual icks I have for omnipotent and omnipresent 300 yr old vampires. Charlotte (our FMC) definitely falls prey to my above observation of unfulfilled potential; her backstory is so tragic & there are some genuinely good moments of reflection on her grief, her trauma & her hope. That being said, it just didn’t hold the weight I needed it to - ultimately a fault of the oftentimes clumsy and tiresome prose.
2. The romance - yes it was cute, yes it worked. For me it was a 2/5 simply because it held no real impact beyond what we already know works when reading romance (forced proximity, hurt/comfort, protective MMC, 3-4/5 smut level, etc etc). Did I feel they had a special bond? An understanding of each other that bread real connection and meaning? A relationship that could last more than a few weeks? My brutally honest feeling after finishing this is - MEh, maybe, i have no strong feelings either way. And the enemy of emotion is apathy!
3. The setting - listen I’m going to be picky about this since I am a British citizen with a history degree. The author does give a disclaimer that this is written in American English and not historically accurate. I understand this & I chose to forgive the fact that the dialogue felt like anyone could suddenly shout out ‘BRO DUDE HELLA DOPE’ and it would not have been out of place. This book could have easily been set in America and it would have had absolutely no impact on my mental image of the setting. It feels so intensely UN-London-y and UN-Victorian. Which is a problem. Maybe the only time i was reminded that this was supposed to be LONDON was when the Thames was mentioned. Like once. Also - small note - never have i ever in my 22 years in England seen a cockroach (though benefit of the doubt google says they do exist in the UK).
4. The writing - this was definitely the book’s weakest point. The prose was clunky a lot of the time with lots of repetition (take a shot for every ‘dark wet curl’ mentioned) - bear in mind though I was reading the unproofed e-arc edition, so how much of that finds itself into the final published version I cannot say. A more pressing overarching issue was the pacing. When Bones Whisper finds itself unable to maintain any of its much needed momentum/rhythm/tension because things just happen at the wrong times! Endless stretches of dialogue happen at moments that should be the most fast paced; moments of exposition spontaneously occur with no built-up or pay-off; descriptive scenes meander on for no particular reason. Again, these are things that I genuinely believe one big-redraft could have absolutely solved.
Listen, overall, this book has some genuinely lovely, interesting, and complex themes weaved throughout the story. I did not HATE anything about this work; I have absolutely no qualms about DNFing a book I find unenjoyable & I made it all the way through this. I just have no strong feeling apart from regret over what this COULD have been. If the premise interests you - it is still worth reading, just maybe bear in mind all the above.
October 11, 2025
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book! I didn’t know what to expect, but I loved this one so much! It honestly felt like a mix of Belladonna, The Haunting of Hill House, and Strange Unearthly Things. It was everything I could’ve hoped for in a gothic horror romance. I was expecting one of these elements to overshadow the others, but they blend so seamlessly together.
The vibes in this one are immaculate. The atmosphere is so tense and gothic that you honestly don’t know what’s lurking around every corner. And I mean that literally: you don’t know if it’s human or something else. The paranormal aspect of this book was everything. I don’t want to get too into this because I want others to experience it the same way I did, but just know that the paranormal elements are very much at the heart of this book and it really wouldn’t be the same without each of them.
If you read a lot of gothic romance, just note this one isn’t like a Keri Lake gothic romance. It’s definitely closer to a Karina Halle.
I really just wish the pacing was faster.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Victory Editing for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The vibes in this one are immaculate. The atmosphere is so tense and gothic that you honestly don’t know what’s lurking around every corner. And I mean that literally: you don’t know if it’s human or something else. The paranormal aspect of this book was everything. I don’t want to get too into this because I want others to experience it the same way I did, but just know that the paranormal elements are very much at the heart of this book and it really wouldn’t be the same without each of them.
If you read a lot of gothic romance, just note this one isn’t like a Keri Lake gothic romance. It’s definitely closer to a Karina Halle.
I really just wish the pacing was faster.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Victory Editing for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2025
This book is posed to those who enjoy Kerrie lake and Kayleigh smiths books and I’d definitely have to say that checks out, after reading i can definitely see the comparisons and I thought the plot was great, I enjoyed reading the book so im happy with that!
The book has similarities to a lot of books in the gothic / magical / darker fantasy genre. I thought it was a great pick for spooky season, very fitting with the eery darker vibes. I liked the magical abilities and the FMC.
I don’t really have anything bad to say, I haven’t read from this author before so I went in with no expectations just hoping for some good gothic vibes and that is exactly what was delivered! I’d definitely recommend to give this a try for yourself!
Disclaimer: I received this book as a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The book has similarities to a lot of books in the gothic / magical / darker fantasy genre. I thought it was a great pick for spooky season, very fitting with the eery darker vibes. I liked the magical abilities and the FMC.
I don’t really have anything bad to say, I haven’t read from this author before so I went in with no expectations just hoping for some good gothic vibes and that is exactly what was delivered! I’d definitely recommend to give this a try for yourself!
Disclaimer: I received this book as a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 14, 2025
I love the gothic horror vibe of this book. Ghosts, vampires, witches, a gothic romance and a hot AF MMC all make this a pretty solid choice to break up any reading slump. The FMC is quirky and well-written, the male MMC is a classic broody, mysterious vampire. While not terribly spicy, this book was fun and easy to get into without the investment of a longer series. There is also an adorable cat in the story, and nothing bad happens to the cat! I can't stand pet violence so I'm happy to say no issues with that here. All in all, this is a fun read, especially around Halloween!
I received an ARC copy of this review in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC copy of this review in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2025
3.25 ⭐️, thank you for the ARC
I think this book has good bones (pun intended). The premise of the story and plot kept me intrigued but the execution felt disjointed and the pacing was inconsistent.
Vibes - The gothic, paranormal aspects were interesting to me. The author provides a disclaimer that although this takes place in Victorian England, the writing is American English and it is not historically accurate. This doesn't bother me but the setting of Victorian England doesn't really mean anything in the story or writing in general so I sort of feel this could have happened anywhere at anytime.
Plot - I liked the general plot of this, especially the paranormal aspects, that truly made the book feel dark and gothic. I just wish it was more polished, some of the plot was convoluted and repetitive, there were even some sentences where I audible said "I know, I just read that." I wish the author showed us more rather than telling us.
Characters - I liked both the FMC and MMC, although they did feel a little surface level. I think they both have such interesting back stories that got them to the point at the end of the book and those stories and themes could have been explored more deeply. Duke is the best though.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes dark, gothic, romance with vampires, witches and the paranormal. It was a fairly quick read so ultimately I don't feel like I wasted my time and quite enjoyed certain aspects of this story!
I think this book has good bones (pun intended). The premise of the story and plot kept me intrigued but the execution felt disjointed and the pacing was inconsistent.
Vibes - The gothic, paranormal aspects were interesting to me. The author provides a disclaimer that although this takes place in Victorian England, the writing is American English and it is not historically accurate. This doesn't bother me but the setting of Victorian England doesn't really mean anything in the story or writing in general so I sort of feel this could have happened anywhere at anytime.
Plot - I liked the general plot of this, especially the paranormal aspects, that truly made the book feel dark and gothic. I just wish it was more polished, some of the plot was convoluted and repetitive, there were even some sentences where I audible said "I know, I just read that." I wish the author showed us more rather than telling us.
Characters - I liked both the FMC and MMC, although they did feel a little surface level. I think they both have such interesting back stories that got them to the point at the end of the book and those stories and themes could have been explored more deeply. Duke is the best though.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes dark, gothic, romance with vampires, witches and the paranormal. It was a fairly quick read so ultimately I don't feel like I wasted my time and quite enjoyed certain aspects of this story!
October 16, 2025
Lusciously gothic, darkly delicious, and intoxicatingly atmospheric. I devoured this book in two nights.
When Bones Whisper has everything I could could ever want from a gothic romance: witches, vampires, cursed objects, ghosts, demons, and possession. I absolutely loved every minute.
Charlotte and Nathaniel's relationship had me hooked. There are so many fun scenes throughout, and the gothic atmosphere is amazing. This is the perfect read for darker nights, and definitely a story that will linger for years to come.
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book, in return for an honest review.
When Bones Whisper has everything I could could ever want from a gothic romance: witches, vampires, cursed objects, ghosts, demons, and possession. I absolutely loved every minute.
Charlotte and Nathaniel's relationship had me hooked. There are so many fun scenes throughout, and the gothic atmosphere is amazing. This is the perfect read for darker nights, and definitely a story that will linger for years to come.
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book, in return for an honest review.
October 16, 2025
OMG, I loved this book! Vampires, witches, and a deliciously gothic vibe? Sign me up every time! From the very first page, I was hooked. The atmosphere was rich and immersive, and I couldn’t get enough of the magic and mystery woven throughout the story.
But what really stole my heart was the banter between Charlotte and Nathaniel. Their chemistry practically leapt off the page—equal parts witty, tense, and smoldering. Every interaction had me either grinning or holding my breath. I need more of them ASAP!
This was my first book by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last. I’m officially obsessed.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC for a honest review.
But what really stole my heart was the banter between Charlotte and Nathaniel. Their chemistry practically leapt off the page—equal parts witty, tense, and smoldering. Every interaction had me either grinning or holding my breath. I need more of them ASAP!
This was my first book by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last. I’m officially obsessed.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC for a honest review.
October 17, 2025
OMG!!!!!! This book was such a perfect spooky read for this Halloween season!!!! I was blessed with an ARC of this book. I loved every second of it. When Rebecca said if you loved Haunting of Hill House and Dracula, you'd love this book, she did not miss the mark. This book was so eerie, so romantic, so suspenseful even. Ahen I thought I had it all figured out I ended up being wrong, which I personally love because that means its not a predictable story! It had me kicking my feet like a school girl it had me stressed, all of the feels. I didn't want it to end, though all good things eventually do! Thank you for this journey Rebecca it was a beautiful one.
October 12, 2025
This is kinda all over the place. I don’t like the way the scenes changed throughout the story, the writing in general feels disjointed. I also really don’t think the blurb should include Fairydale and I could see where it was going very early on. I also really hate short fantasy books and this book is 265 pages (I thought it was 414 according to Goodreads).
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
October 16, 2025
I have been waiting to read this one! I was so excited to get it since it gives gothic and spooky vibes! This was an amazing read I could not put this down! Vampires and witches heck yes! If you love a hot romance I recommend this read!
October 17, 2025
ARC Review :
Thank you so much author for giving me this incredible opportunity 🙏🏻
Tropes:
🐈⬛ Haunting Manor
🐈⬛ Spirits and Demons
🐈⬛ Witches and Vampires
🐈⬛ Ancient Curse
🐈⬛ Victorian era London
🐈⬛ Pathetically Obsessed MMC
🐈⬛ Slow Burn you won't have a spicy until the half part of the book
🐈⬛ Their love is doomed
🐈⬛ Her existence haunts him
🐈⬛ Black cat pet
🐈⬛ Chronic Illness Awareness
🐈⬛ Survivor Guilt
🐈⬛ Enemies to Allies to Doomed Lovers
If you are looking for a spooky book for your haunted autumn TBR, with an ancient vampire, a witch and her black cat filled with scary spirits in haunted manors , lots of yearning and slow burn that will leave you believing that their love will end tragically this book is for you
Rating: 4.5 ⭐
“Everything I am and everything I have is yours, my love.”
my favourite quote:
“Don’t you see? You’ve imprinted yourself so deep in my damned soul that no knife could ever be sharp enough to remove you. Your light has haunted me since our first meeting and every thought I have is embedded with your essence. I am utterly and completely consumed by you, so completely that if I ever die and the bugs feast upon my flesh, all they will taste is my love for you.”
When Bones Whisper is an incredible well plotted gothic romance that I admit tended to be in the horror romance category. Our FMC, Charlotte is a young woman who just lost all her family in a massacre by her own father. Now, her uncle and cousin are in charge of the Lovett Manor and its haunting past. In her attempt to get away from their evil claws, Charlotte discovers an ancient curse and the existence of the paranormal world. Charlotte as a witch herself who was forbidden from using magic becomes the center of attention of evil forces who want to take her power. That's how she meets her enemy, now ally Nathaniel, an ancient vampire who takes interest in Charlotte's existence.
Charlotte was one of the most kind hearted characters that I have ever met . She was such a kind person with a sad soul.. In the book , we see how she deals with grief and her chronic illness and how she tries to overcome both of them .
Her experience with death started from a young age as she could she ghosts and spirits.Her relationship with Nathaniel was a pure yearning and burning tension like their love was doomed and tragic and so full of passion. Their shared grief and trauma truly helped overcome the guilt they felt about their past . Also, Nathaniel helping her with her chronic pain was just
🤌🏻🤌🏻 . We love a pathetically obsessed MMC!!
And now it's time to talk about Duke 🐈⬛ without spoiling anything.. He was the cutest baby , always saving the day ❤️
One thing I want to mention about the plot is that the monsters gave Conjuring vibes and I was so here for it like it gave me the chills just what I wanted from a dark gothic romance for spooky season.
Thank you so much author for giving me this incredible opportunity 🙏🏻
Tropes:
🐈⬛ Haunting Manor
🐈⬛ Spirits and Demons
🐈⬛ Witches and Vampires
🐈⬛ Ancient Curse
🐈⬛ Victorian era London
🐈⬛ Pathetically Obsessed MMC
🐈⬛ Slow Burn you won't have a spicy until the half part of the book
🐈⬛ Their love is doomed
🐈⬛ Her existence haunts him
🐈⬛ Black cat pet
🐈⬛ Chronic Illness Awareness
🐈⬛ Survivor Guilt
🐈⬛ Enemies to Allies to Doomed Lovers
If you are looking for a spooky book for your haunted autumn TBR, with an ancient vampire, a witch and her black cat filled with scary spirits in haunted manors , lots of yearning and slow burn that will leave you believing that their love will end tragically this book is for you
Rating: 4.5 ⭐
“Everything I am and everything I have is yours, my love.”
my favourite quote:
“Don’t you see? You’ve imprinted yourself so deep in my damned soul that no knife could ever be sharp enough to remove you. Your light has haunted me since our first meeting and every thought I have is embedded with your essence. I am utterly and completely consumed by you, so completely that if I ever die and the bugs feast upon my flesh, all they will taste is my love for you.”
When Bones Whisper is an incredible well plotted gothic romance that I admit tended to be in the horror romance category. Our FMC, Charlotte is a young woman who just lost all her family in a massacre by her own father. Now, her uncle and cousin are in charge of the Lovett Manor and its haunting past. In her attempt to get away from their evil claws, Charlotte discovers an ancient curse and the existence of the paranormal world. Charlotte as a witch herself who was forbidden from using magic becomes the center of attention of evil forces who want to take her power. That's how she meets her enemy, now ally Nathaniel, an ancient vampire who takes interest in Charlotte's existence.
Charlotte was one of the most kind hearted characters that I have ever met . She was such a kind person with a sad soul.. In the book , we see how she deals with grief and her chronic illness and how she tries to overcome both of them .
Her experience with death started from a young age as she could she ghosts and spirits.Her relationship with Nathaniel was a pure yearning and burning tension like their love was doomed and tragic and so full of passion. Their shared grief and trauma truly helped overcome the guilt they felt about their past . Also, Nathaniel helping her with her chronic pain was just
🤌🏻🤌🏻 . We love a pathetically obsessed MMC!!
And now it's time to talk about Duke 🐈⬛ without spoiling anything.. He was the cutest baby , always saving the day ❤️
One thing I want to mention about the plot is that the monsters gave Conjuring vibes and I was so here for it like it gave me the chills just what I wanted from a dark gothic romance for spooky season.
October 14, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ for me
Wow. I’ve just finished this and I’m not sure how I feel about it! I really enjoyed this story. The atmospheric, gothic, Manor House vibes are great. It is spooky, magical, plot twists and a little bit dark at times. This story has similar feels to Enchantra, with the grumpy vampire and maybe a small trial. There are plot twists galore and I didn’t guess them all.
I do have a few issues though I’m afraid. Some moments felt rushed, we had a big build up of tension and momentum and then the big moment is seemingly over within a sentence or two. This happened a few times.
I’m afraid I found Charlotte annoying- I’m sorry! I like yearning, but she bordered pathetic for me and I was missing that strength and fire that she showed in tiny snippets during the action. It made her less believable for me and I wasn’t particularly rooting for her to survive. I also felt that the story was rushed alot and I wanted more answers or more background information - obviously that could mean book 2 etc, but I was nearing the ending expecting a cliffhanger and again all the action was done and sorted fairly easily. This story could’ve been given more meat and satisfied my need for more depth in a longer novel, or over 2 books.
I really enjoyed the story, the concept, I devoured it in 2 sittings - but it didn’t leave me satisfied. I think Duke is my favourite character - mainly because everyone else was quite unforgettable. We had a memory of the sisters being sisters, and it gave that background that we needed - the nostalgia and the demonstration of what their relationship was like.
Great story for me personally - needs more meat on its bones to be a great novel.
Thank you for the opportunity NetGalley and Victoria Editing NetGalley Co-Op #NetGalley #WhenBonesWhisper #whenboneswhisper
Wow. I’ve just finished this and I’m not sure how I feel about it! I really enjoyed this story. The atmospheric, gothic, Manor House vibes are great. It is spooky, magical, plot twists and a little bit dark at times. This story has similar feels to Enchantra, with the grumpy vampire and maybe a small trial. There are plot twists galore and I didn’t guess them all.
I do have a few issues though I’m afraid. Some moments felt rushed, we had a big build up of tension and momentum and then the big moment is seemingly over within a sentence or two. This happened a few times.
I’m afraid I found Charlotte annoying- I’m sorry! I like yearning, but she bordered pathetic for me and I was missing that strength and fire that she showed in tiny snippets during the action. It made her less believable for me and I wasn’t particularly rooting for her to survive. I also felt that the story was rushed alot and I wanted more answers or more background information - obviously that could mean book 2 etc, but I was nearing the ending expecting a cliffhanger and again all the action was done and sorted fairly easily. This story could’ve been given more meat and satisfied my need for more depth in a longer novel, or over 2 books.
I really enjoyed the story, the concept, I devoured it in 2 sittings - but it didn’t leave me satisfied. I think Duke is my favourite character - mainly because everyone else was quite unforgettable. We had a memory of the sisters being sisters, and it gave that background that we needed - the nostalgia and the demonstration of what their relationship was like.
Great story for me personally - needs more meat on its bones to be a great novel.
Thank you for the opportunity NetGalley and Victoria Editing NetGalley Co-Op #NetGalley #WhenBonesWhisper #whenboneswhisper
October 17, 2025
I really enjoyed this one! As a reader of both horror and romance, and paranormal romance lover, this ended up being right up my alley!
This was a deliciously darker take on some of the more rom-com leaning witch/vampire romances out there. The romance was great. I mean you can’t really go wrong with forced proximity forbidden romance, can you?? Definitely take note of the content warnings before jumping in, but honestly, while that list was long, nothing overly egregious took place, especially if you already read horror.
As someone who is a bit hesitant regarding historical settings, I actually really loved the pseudo Victorian setting of this! It had all the gothic vibes I would want from that period without all of the historically accurate details that may take me out of the story. I know historical accuracy might be important to some, but not to me, so I really did love this aspect.
I also loved the inclusion of Duke as Charlotte’s familiar! He was such a charming, warming presence in this otherwise dark book! The lore of the witches and vampires was also interesting and unique!
The only downsides I had to this book were the pacing and how some of the chapters started. Some of the scenes in the book felt a little drawn out, but yet there was a new problem to solve at about 95% of the way through the book. It made that last plot point seem like an afterthought. Also, some of the chapters started in what felt like the middle of a totally different scene than what we just left, and that felt a little confusing. These aren’t major issues though, since the content of the book was still great!
Overall, a great October read, and I’ll be looking to add more from this author to my TBR!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author for the ARC!
This was a deliciously darker take on some of the more rom-com leaning witch/vampire romances out there. The romance was great. I mean you can’t really go wrong with forced proximity forbidden romance, can you?? Definitely take note of the content warnings before jumping in, but honestly, while that list was long, nothing overly egregious took place, especially if you already read horror.
As someone who is a bit hesitant regarding historical settings, I actually really loved the pseudo Victorian setting of this! It had all the gothic vibes I would want from that period without all of the historically accurate details that may take me out of the story. I know historical accuracy might be important to some, but not to me, so I really did love this aspect.
I also loved the inclusion of Duke as Charlotte’s familiar! He was such a charming, warming presence in this otherwise dark book! The lore of the witches and vampires was also interesting and unique!
The only downsides I had to this book were the pacing and how some of the chapters started. Some of the scenes in the book felt a little drawn out, but yet there was a new problem to solve at about 95% of the way through the book. It made that last plot point seem like an afterthought. Also, some of the chapters started in what felt like the middle of a totally different scene than what we just left, and that felt a little confusing. These aren’t major issues though, since the content of the book was still great!
Overall, a great October read, and I’ll be looking to add more from this author to my TBR!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author for the ARC!
October 13, 2025
3 stars because I’m conflicted
Okay I’m gonna start by saying this is a good book a great book even it’s well written and it’s entertaining but I have my reasons for my rating
For context I am a quick reader I can get through a book of this size in maximum 2 days and I was well on the way to that I was DEVOURING this book until about 48ish percent and then it fell a little flat for me and couldn’t hold my attention I was getting bored I started reading a chapter at a time and putting it down and I found it didn’t pick back up until around the 70ish percent mark it took me 3 days to get from 48% to the tail end of 70%
Now if you love a slow burn then this book is absolutely perfect for u and I’m sure you’ll love it but for me personally reading 78% of a book before we get a kiss is blasphemy now don’t get me wrong after the kiss things did get moving and the book held my attention long enough for me to finish and I was satisfied with the ending but if I’m reading a romance book I’m going to need more than 20% of the book to have romantic elements
Overall the story was good the book was well written and like I said if u love a slow burn this is definitely for u I just like a bit more spice in my romance
Okay I’m gonna start by saying this is a good book a great book even it’s well written and it’s entertaining but I have my reasons for my rating
For context I am a quick reader I can get through a book of this size in maximum 2 days and I was well on the way to that I was DEVOURING this book until about 48ish percent and then it fell a little flat for me and couldn’t hold my attention I was getting bored I started reading a chapter at a time and putting it down and I found it didn’t pick back up until around the 70ish percent mark it took me 3 days to get from 48% to the tail end of 70%
Now if you love a slow burn then this book is absolutely perfect for u and I’m sure you’ll love it but for me personally reading 78% of a book before we get a kiss is blasphemy now don’t get me wrong after the kiss things did get moving and the book held my attention long enough for me to finish and I was satisfied with the ending but if I’m reading a romance book I’m going to need more than 20% of the book to have romantic elements
Overall the story was good the book was well written and like I said if u love a slow burn this is definitely for u I just like a bit more spice in my romance
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2025
A witch who is the last of her bloodline is the only one who can reverse the vampire curse. The only problem is it'll cost her her life.
If you tell me a book is a dark Gothic romance with vampires and witches, I'm going to be on board. This particular book has not only vampires and witches but also ghosts, demons, and a furry friend familiar. Unfortunately, I think it was just too much for this standalone. The concept of the book is good and sounds like a fun time, but I think it would have been better with fewer paranormal beings that we could really do a deeper dive into. As it stands, everything and everyone felt very surface level. Perhaps if the book had been longer or even made into a duology we could have spent more time really getting to know these characters and entities, but logistically there's only so much you can do in a relatively short standalone. As such, many aspects felt rushed and somewhat convoluted. This book reminded me a bit of Phantasma with the sudden happy ending you don't typically think of when it comes to dark Gothic romance.
I can see this being a good time if it were fleshed out more. As it stands, it leaves me needing more.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
If you tell me a book is a dark Gothic romance with vampires and witches, I'm going to be on board. This particular book has not only vampires and witches but also ghosts, demons, and a furry friend familiar. Unfortunately, I think it was just too much for this standalone. The concept of the book is good and sounds like a fun time, but I think it would have been better with fewer paranormal beings that we could really do a deeper dive into. As it stands, everything and everyone felt very surface level. Perhaps if the book had been longer or even made into a duology we could have spent more time really getting to know these characters and entities, but logistically there's only so much you can do in a relatively short standalone. As such, many aspects felt rushed and somewhat convoluted. This book reminded me a bit of Phantasma with the sudden happy ending you don't typically think of when it comes to dark Gothic romance.
I can see this being a good time if it were fleshed out more. As it stands, it leaves me needing more.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
October 15, 2025
📖 ARC REVIEW 📖 5/5
I absolutely loved this book, and first of all, thank you so much to my lovely author for sending it to me as an ARC! 💌
Our story takes place in a completely gothic world, and it actually begins when Charlotte needs to survive — and Nathaniel saves her.
But don’t you dare think he’s a sweet, romantic vampire — on the contrary, he’s quite grumpy, and that only made me love him even more!!!
Charlotte is a witch, but a witch who’s never used magic in her life, and watching her finally embrace her true nature was incredible.
On the other hand, the bond between her and Nathaniel (you’ll understand when you read that part) was absolutely amazing — and the things Nathaniel does for her!!!👀 (he literally went and found her cat Duke after hours of searching and brought him back 🥹)
Alexander is the sweetest (Nathaniel’s friend), and even though he’s a vampire, he tries so hard not to be bad — and he’s also super funny!!!!
This book was so beautiful; I feel so lucky and happy that I got to read it. If you haven’t had the chance to read anything by this author yet, please do!!!
I absolutely loved this book, and first of all, thank you so much to my lovely author for sending it to me as an ARC! 💌
Our story takes place in a completely gothic world, and it actually begins when Charlotte needs to survive — and Nathaniel saves her.
But don’t you dare think he’s a sweet, romantic vampire — on the contrary, he’s quite grumpy, and that only made me love him even more!!!
Charlotte is a witch, but a witch who’s never used magic in her life, and watching her finally embrace her true nature was incredible.
On the other hand, the bond between her and Nathaniel (you’ll understand when you read that part) was absolutely amazing — and the things Nathaniel does for her!!!👀 (he literally went and found her cat Duke after hours of searching and brought him back 🥹)
Alexander is the sweetest (Nathaniel’s friend), and even though he’s a vampire, he tries so hard not to be bad — and he’s also super funny!!!!
This book was so beautiful; I feel so lucky and happy that I got to read it. If you haven’t had the chance to read anything by this author yet, please do!!!
October 12, 2025
I received this ARC and was super excited for a gothic romantasy! This book has so much potential. I loved the setting and the premise, and was excited to delve into the story.
Unfortunately, the writing took me out of the story quite a bit. I’m typically one to forgive writing errors as long as the vibes/reading experience is good enough. This one was more difficult. My forgiveness in errors didn’t really come through till about the 60% mark. Prior to that, it was really hard to stay invested in the story.
The characters are interesting, and I loved our MMC, Nathaniel. The TENSION was fantastic and was probably the best part of the story.
The ending was also great and I loved how the twists built up, but I feel like the author wanted to incorporate too many fantasy elements and got a little confused throughout. If it was kept a little more succinct, then the author could’ve really delved into those details and the twists at the end would’ve stood out and paid off even more.
Overall I liked this book, I think it just needed a bit more editing.
Unfortunately, the writing took me out of the story quite a bit. I’m typically one to forgive writing errors as long as the vibes/reading experience is good enough. This one was more difficult. My forgiveness in errors didn’t really come through till about the 60% mark. Prior to that, it was really hard to stay invested in the story.
The characters are interesting, and I loved our MMC, Nathaniel. The TENSION was fantastic and was probably the best part of the story.
The ending was also great and I loved how the twists built up, but I feel like the author wanted to incorporate too many fantasy elements and got a little confused throughout. If it was kept a little more succinct, then the author could’ve really delved into those details and the twists at the end would’ve stood out and paid off even more.
Overall I liked this book, I think it just needed a bit more editing.
October 13, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC.
This was such a vibes read for me, so I’m not going to be super critical, but this was such a quick, spooky vampire/witch read and I absolutely devoured it.
The haunted house setting(s) were so gritty although lacked a teeeny bit of atmosphere - I feel like this could’ve been built on more.
The mmc carried this book - his internal struggle in the scenes with the fmc were so gut wrenching, you could feel he wanted to be close to her but knew the risks of this. Also, I kind of wish we had his pov as well - I would’ve loved to know what he was thinking.
Alexander was the best side character, although it felt he trusted Charlotte a little too quickly.
Charlotte.. Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte , our naive little fmc. She was a sweetheart, maybe too much so though?
Duke was the best boy.
This was such a vibes read for me, so I’m not going to be super critical, but this was such a quick, spooky vampire/witch read and I absolutely devoured it.
The haunted house setting(s) were so gritty although lacked a teeeny bit of atmosphere - I feel like this could’ve been built on more.
The mmc carried this book - his internal struggle in the scenes with the fmc were so gut wrenching, you could feel he wanted to be close to her but knew the risks of this. Also, I kind of wish we had his pov as well - I would’ve loved to know what he was thinking.
Alexander was the best side character, although it felt he trusted Charlotte a little too quickly.
Charlotte.. Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte , our naive little fmc. She was a sweetheart, maybe too much so though?
Duke was the best boy.
October 11, 2025
I really wanted to like it, especially because I've read Rebecca's other books and I enjoyed them but I just couldn't get into this one.
It was slower than I thought it would be but since I started it I had to finish it.
I wanted to read this because of the whole witches and vampires part of it and while I liked the idea of Charlotte and Nathaniel, they just didn't go together.
I feel like more could've happened and I was just disappointed this time.
It won't stop me from reading future books by the author though.
It was slower than I thought it would be but since I started it I had to finish it.
I wanted to read this because of the whole witches and vampires part of it and while I liked the idea of Charlotte and Nathaniel, they just didn't go together.
I feel like more could've happened and I was just disappointed this time.
It won't stop me from reading future books by the author though.
October 12, 2025
This was the perfect book to kick off my October tbr. Nathaniel was everything and Charlotte was relatable and broken and I loved her relationship with her car Duke. The scary bits of the book were well done but the supernatural aspects and gothic vibes stood out the most. I read it in one sitting and the romance in this was top tier. It had me kicking my feet. I wouldn't say it was very British which was a little disappointing but other than that, five stars.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy
October 14, 2025
The vibes of this book were spot on. Loved the gothic atmosphere and the story was quick and fun. I liked both the MC’s.
The book did feel slightly repetitive and my interest started to wander about half way through. The paranormal creepy elements were cool, they may have been expanded more to keep from the lull. Also, the hunt felt over too quick and could have been elaborated on more.
Duke was simply the best. I’m always a sucker for an animal sidekick and he was great.
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The book did feel slightly repetitive and my interest started to wander about half way through. The paranormal creepy elements were cool, they may have been expanded more to keep from the lull. Also, the hunt felt over too quick and could have been elaborated on more.
Duke was simply the best. I’m always a sucker for an animal sidekick and he was great.
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 15, 2025
3.5 ⭐'s
This book had spooky vibes, cool magic, and a haunted heroine—so I was into it. But somewhere along the way, it kinda lost me. The story dragged a bit, and I didn’t totally click with the characters. It’s fine if you’re in the mood for moody paranormal drama, but I wouldn’t call it a must-read.
Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!
This book had spooky vibes, cool magic, and a haunted heroine—so I was into it. But somewhere along the way, it kinda lost me. The story dragged a bit, and I didn’t totally click with the characters. It’s fine if you’re in the mood for moody paranormal drama, but I wouldn’t call it a must-read.
Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!
October 12, 2025
When Bones Whisper
Rating: 1
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC but in exchange for an honest review.
This book is not it.
If you want a convoluted mess of a story attempting to be a gothic horror/romance with zero character development and a tedious yet baffling plot, this is the book for you.
Rating: 1
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC but in exchange for an honest review.
This book is not it.
If you want a convoluted mess of a story attempting to be a gothic horror/romance with zero character development and a tedious yet baffling plot, this is the book for you.
Currently reading
October 16, 2025Thank you for the arc 🫶
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