When Devils Sing

Name: When Devils Sing
Rating: 3.696 (401 reviews)
ISBN: 9781250357168

By Xan Kaur

Publisher Description

This deluxe edition is printed with gorgeous stenciled edges and a stunning foil-stamped case!

An Instant New York Times and Indie Bestseller. A Goodreads Most Anticipated Horror Novel. A New York Public Library and Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year.

"A true blood-soaked Southern Gothic for the modern age.” —Andrew Joseph White, New York Times–bestselling author of Hell Followed With Us and The Spirit Bears its Teeth

"Immersive and atmospheric." —Publishers Weekly

Four unlikely allies in a small town investigate a local teen's disappearance, and what they discover festering at the core of their community is far more sinister and ancient than they could’ve ever imagined. For fans of True Detective, Mexican Gothic, and Midsommar.

When Dawson Sumter goes missing, all he leaves behind is a smattering of blood in room 4 of the debt-ridden motel owned by Neera Singh's family. Disappearances like this aren't uncommon in the rural Georgia town of Carrion, especially every thirteen years when a periodical cicada brood returns from underground, shrieking their deafening screams.

For Neera, Dawson is another reminder that in this corner of the South, the rich only get richer, and the poor—well, nothing good comes their way.

Neera sets out to investigate Dawson’s whereabouts—if he even still lives—along with three other teens: Isaiah, son of a prominent judge and clandestine true crime podcaster; Reid, son of the wealthiest man in the region; and Sam, estranged daughter of the local hitman. As they find themselves entangled in a messy web of secrets and lies, they discover the riches of the adjacent Lake Clearwater community may have a terrifying source of power dating back to the town’s founding and an ancient urban legend about three devils, each more sinister than the next. How deep does the rot go, and can they find a way to escape its reach?

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When Devils Sing Reviews

3.5

Karissa

Created about 14 hours ago

AV🌱

Created 1 day ago

“the concept was so cool & i enjoyed most of the character perspectives. the plotting was a little off & i wish we got more culty/supernatural elements than we did. however, for a debut, this was still really good & i hope this author continues to write & develop. also the audiobook ateeeee so i’d highly recommend to listen to it, if you can!”

Beautifully-written Easy to read

Velourtine

Created 4 days ago

“When Devils Sing is a horror thriller set in a small Georgia town that feels particularly relevant to our current societal climate. Every thirteen years, cicadas emerge by the thousands, and with them, residents mysteriously disappear. Neera, Isaiah, Sam, and Reid try to unravel this enigma by infiltrating Lake Clearwater's elite. I absolutely loved the atmosphere and setting of this novel, which is indeed in the vein of Stephen King. I’ve always been fascinated by this very real natural phenomenon that the author describes. Even though it's fiction, discovering the folklore surrounding it was not only captivating but also genuinely unsettling. Yet, what truly gave me nightmares was the depth of what the characters endure. They are incredibly well-written, and the issues they grapple with are strikingly realistic. The story gains an even deeper poignancy when you consider that the author, of Punjabi descent like Neera, drew inspiration from her own family's emigration to the United States. Southern Georgia, with its pervasive humidity and desolate landscapes, makes a prime location for horror stories. Still, the author also wanted to showcase the cultural diversity of the South while simultaneously critiquing its established systems. And even with a straightforward plot, I believe it's a successful work. On the flip side, I found the pacing a bit uneven. For a thriller, it lacked suspense and plot twists in my opinion. Nevertheless, I think this novel has fantastic potential for a television adaptation! 🇫🇷 Un thriller horrifique sur une petite ville de Géorgie qui fait écho au climat actuel. À Carrion, tous les treize ans, les cigales sortent de terre par milliers, et des habitants disparaissent mystérieusement. Neera, Isaiah, Sam et Reid vont tenter de percer le mystère en se fondant parmi l’élite de Lake Clearwater. J’ai adoré l’ambiance et le cadre de ce roman qui, effectivement, est dans la veine de Stephen King. Je suis aussi fascinée par ce phénomène naturel que décrit l’autrice et qui est bien réel. Et même si ça reste une fiction, découvrir le folklore qui l’entoure était passionnant, mais aussi vraiment glauque. Cependant, ce qui m’a fait faire des cauchemars, c’est ce que traversent les personnages. Ils sont très bien écrits, et les problématiques abordées criantes de réalisme. L’histoire n’en est que plus touchante quand on sait que l’autrice, d’origine panjabie comme Neera, s’est inspirée de sa propre famille partie s’installer aux États-Unis. Le sud de la Géorgie est un lieu propice aux récits d’horreur à cause de sa moiteur ambiante et ses paysages désolés ; mais l’autrice a également voulu montrer la diversité culturelle du Sud, tout en critiquant le système mis en place. Et même si l’histoire reste assez classique, c’est pour moi un pari réussi. Néanmoins, j’ai trouvé que le rythme n’était pas assez engageant. Pour un thriller, ça manquait de suspense et de retournements de situation selon moi. Toutefois, je pense que ce roman ferait une très bonne adaptation télé !”

Sadie!

Created 4 days ago

“I enjoyed the setting of this book, I will always adore books set in the Deep South with a slightly gothic feel, but this book (for me) felt a little flat. There was a lot of buildup, but there was also a lot of loose ends and not a lot of resolution/answers. I liked the characters, but none of them felt compelling and personal. Overall, my favorite this about this book was the setting, but the story itself and characters are not memorable enough to rate it higher”

Rowana

Created 4 days ago

About Xan Kaur

New York Times-bestselling author Xan Kaur grew up in rural Georgia, where there were more gnats than people. When not writing, you can find her behind a camera or swimming in the nearest ocean. When Devils Sing is her debut novel.