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Spit Back the Bones
For fans of Midnight Mass comes a haunting new horromance. Something dreadful is festering in the old Thomas Bog. For years, it’s done what it has been taught to do—it swallows. But it’s done following orders.
It’s been three years since Mila Thomas’ brother Jed went missing and his case went cold. Since then, Mila has fled town, running from the voices of the dead that reach her from the depths of the old family bog, afraid she would hear her brother’s among them.
But when her younger sister, Agatha, calls her back home to celebrate her graduation, Mila can’t help but return to her old haunts. When she arrives, Mila comes face to face with the town reverend, who informs her that Agatha is now also missing. Finding her mother and the local police utterly useless, Mila opens herself up to the voices of the bog in the hopes that they can tell her where her sister is. But something else lurks beneath the bog's waters, something that would sooner hunt her than help her. As more bodies turn up on the sandy shores, Mila must overcome her complicated history with the reverend’s estranged son—the boy she never quite got over—to unearth the fate of the town’s missing members and the family secrets that may be behind everything.
It’s been three years since Mila Thomas’ brother Jed went missing and his case went cold. Since then, Mila has fled town, running from the voices of the dead that reach her from the depths of the old family bog, afraid she would hear her brother’s among them.
But when her younger sister, Agatha, calls her back home to celebrate her graduation, Mila can’t help but return to her old haunts. When she arrives, Mila comes face to face with the town reverend, who informs her that Agatha is now also missing. Finding her mother and the local police utterly useless, Mila opens herself up to the voices of the bog in the hopes that they can tell her where her sister is. But something else lurks beneath the bog's waters, something that would sooner hunt her than help her. As more bodies turn up on the sandy shores, Mila must overcome her complicated history with the reverend’s estranged son—the boy she never quite got over—to unearth the fate of the town’s missing members and the family secrets that may be behind everything.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 23, 2025
20 people are currently reading
5960 people want to read
About the author
Teagan Olivia King
7 books127 followersTeagan Olivia King(she/her) is an adult author living on the sandy shores of Lake Huron, passionate about writing stories of women who are stronger than they know. Teagan graduated from Northern Michigan University with a degree in Creative Writing and used that to pursue her love of Shakespeare, acting and directing in her local theatre, and studying the art of dramaturgy. Short stories of Teagan’s can be found in anthologies from Phantom House Press, Quill and Crow Publishing, Shortwave Publishing, Black Spot Books, and Eerie River Publishing.
Having been diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder and PTSD for most of her life, Teagan is passionate about telling stories of resilience. Stories of characters who discover the power of their own emotions, and use that power to overcome.
Teagan lives in a farmhouse on a dead-end road with her rescue pup, Remus and a black cat who may or may not harbor the soul of some-long dead deity. Her debut adult horror novel, SPIT BACK THE BONES, comes out September 23rd, 2025.
Teagan is represented by Amy Giuffrida
Having been diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder and PTSD for most of her life, Teagan is passionate about telling stories of resilience. Stories of characters who discover the power of their own emotions, and use that power to overcome.
Teagan lives in a farmhouse on a dead-end road with her rescue pup, Remus and a black cat who may or may not harbor the soul of some-long dead deity. Her debut adult horror novel, SPIT BACK THE BONES, comes out September 23rd, 2025.
Teagan is represented by Amy Giuffrida
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
June 3, 2025
4.5
girls. i'm obsessed. i like scary bog books and i cannot lie.
the pacing felt just a little bit off at times and the mood kind of jumped from adult to YA a few times, so i'd rather have had more consistency, but overall this was a fantastic read
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
girls. i'm obsessed. i like scary bog books and i cannot lie.
the pacing felt just a little bit off at times and the mood kind of jumped from adult to YA a few times, so i'd rather have had more consistency, but overall this was a fantastic read
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
Read
September 19, 2025dnf @20%, first time I’ve dnf'ed an ARC 😭
Thank you to Keylight Books and Netgalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Expected Publication Date: September 23rd, 2025
I’m sorry chat, I just can’t get through this plot. The main character and her inner monologue are insufferable. I tend to be able to appreciate the more complex, less “sweet” characters in books but I cannot find it in myself to care for Mila. The writing is just useless description after useless description - 20% in and I’m still confused on what’s happening. It’s all over the place. A solid 40% of this book could be cut out with no impact to the plot, all because of the random tangents.
Aside from the mess, this book just doesn’t seem to be my taste. I love horror but I guess bog-related horror is not for me. If it’s something you’d like, I’d still recommend giving it a try once it’s released!
~ pre-read ~
new ARC, very excited to read because i looove horror books 🤭
Thank you to Keylight Books and Netgalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Expected Publication Date: September 23rd, 2025
I’m sorry chat, I just can’t get through this plot. The main character and her inner monologue are insufferable. I tend to be able to appreciate the more complex, less “sweet” characters in books but I cannot find it in myself to care for Mila. The writing is just useless description after useless description - 20% in and I’m still confused on what’s happening. It’s all over the place. A solid 40% of this book could be cut out with no impact to the plot, all because of the random tangents.
Aside from the mess, this book just doesn’t seem to be my taste. I love horror but I guess bog-related horror is not for me. If it’s something you’d like, I’d still recommend giving it a try once it’s released!
~ pre-read ~
new ARC, very excited to read because i looove horror books 🤭
February 11, 2025
Hello!! This is my little book and I think it’s pretty darn great! I hope you enjoy reading it! 💛
August 19, 2025
3.5/5 ✩
“But the bog is a lover. And lovers like to lie.”
Thank you NetGalley and Turner Publishing Company for providing me with this ARC.
QUICK SUMMARY
Spit Back the Bones is an immersive, atmospheric horromance full of beautiful imagery and an eerie air. Though the prose is extensively detailed, the story itself is a little lackluster, as if something is missing that I can’t quite put my finger on. This, paired with underdeveloped characters created a story that seems a little more style than substance in hindsight.
R.E.A.D.S. SCORE
R: 4/10
E: 7/10
A: 9/10
D: 7/10
S: 7/10
Total: 6.80/10.00
“But the bog is a lover. And lovers like to lie.”
Thank you NetGalley and Turner Publishing Company for providing me with this ARC.
QUICK SUMMARY
Spit Back the Bones is an immersive, atmospheric horromance full of beautiful imagery and an eerie air. Though the prose is extensively detailed, the story itself is a little lackluster, as if something is missing that I can’t quite put my finger on. This, paired with underdeveloped characters created a story that seems a little more style than substance in hindsight.
R.E.A.D.S. SCORE
R: 4/10
E: 7/10
A: 9/10
D: 7/10
S: 7/10
Total: 6.80/10.00
July 17, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A small town with a supernatural bog and missing people sign me up! Mila returns home three years after her brother went missing to find that her sister is also missing. With the sheriff being absolutely no help, only person that wants to help her is the reverend’s estranged son. Why are more and more people being taken by the bog? While this book was atmospheric, chilling, and emotional, it wasn’t my favorite. The writing leaned more toward YA and it just felt like something was missing. Maybe the romance could have gone up a notch.
A small town with a supernatural bog and missing people sign me up! Mila returns home three years after her brother went missing to find that her sister is also missing. With the sheriff being absolutely no help, only person that wants to help her is the reverend’s estranged son. Why are more and more people being taken by the bog? While this book was atmospheric, chilling, and emotional, it wasn’t my favorite. The writing leaned more toward YA and it just felt like something was missing. Maybe the romance could have gone up a notch.
September 16, 2025
creepy and eerie, spit back the bones explores female rage, religious trauma, and the lengths that people will go to to save the ones they love.
while I loved the spooky and creepy setting, this felt a little bit underdeveloped. there were weird time jumps that broke the flow of things and made it difficult to ever fully feel immersed in the story, which is a shame because the potential was 100% there!
despite this, I still enjoyed the story and there were quite a lot of quotes that have me thinking about them days later. the message and moral of this story was impactful and I would read something else from this author in the future!
thank you to NetGalley, Keylight Books, and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
while I loved the spooky and creepy setting, this felt a little bit underdeveloped. there were weird time jumps that broke the flow of things and made it difficult to ever fully feel immersed in the story, which is a shame because the potential was 100% there!
despite this, I still enjoyed the story and there were quite a lot of quotes that have me thinking about them days later. the message and moral of this story was impactful and I would read something else from this author in the future!
thank you to NetGalley, Keylight Books, and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2025
1/5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the e arc!
Not my thing at all I’m afraid. I hated our main character Mila and didn’t care about anyone else in this town.
I did not want to read another description of a damn bog. I get it. It is mad. Maybe since I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bog in my life (and if I have it’s clearly not memorable enough) I just didn’t fully connect to the atmosphere of the novel.
I found the plot to be super predictable and it offered nothing new to the genre as a whole. I found it convenient that the bad guy was the guy Mila also hated most.
I found the end super fast and there was no resolution afterwards.
I wasn’t a fan of the dialogue and Mila did nothing but insult people.
The romance lacked emotion and anything to make it really believable.
Overall this book was a slog to get through. That being said the lesbian couple were cute!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the e arc!
Not my thing at all I’m afraid. I hated our main character Mila and didn’t care about anyone else in this town.
I did not want to read another description of a damn bog. I get it. It is mad. Maybe since I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bog in my life (and if I have it’s clearly not memorable enough) I just didn’t fully connect to the atmosphere of the novel.
I found the plot to be super predictable and it offered nothing new to the genre as a whole. I found it convenient that the bad guy was the guy Mila also hated most.
I found the end super fast and there was no resolution afterwards.
I wasn’t a fan of the dialogue and Mila did nothing but insult people.
The romance lacked emotion and anything to make it really believable.
Overall this book was a slog to get through. That being said the lesbian couple were cute!
July 15, 2025
A horror book with a side of romance? Always a yes for me… also let’s talk about the cover art because it is just awesome the illustrator absolutely nailed the graphics and its initially what drew me to the book before reading the synopsis.
The synopsis - “ For fans of Midnight Mass comes a haunting new horromance. Something dreadful is festering in the old Thomas Bog. For years, it’s done what it has been taught to do—it swallows. But it’s done following orders.”
I personally was a fan of midnight mass, especially that ending, sheesh 😬 Bogs also intrigue me there’s just something naturally eery about them, the unknown of what’s inside and if there is danger lurking.
This book has many layers and themes such as love, grief, loss, religion, power, mental health and family. For a debut novel the author definition took on a large task of exploring all of these themes within a niche genre, and to give the author credit I think she did a great job and I look forward to following her career. There were times the writing style seemed to almost slip between YA and adult as though the author couldn’t really decide which direction to take, but I think with a little help from editing and experience she’s on to a promising career.
The content of the plot definitely came through on the creepy side which is excellent as that’s what you want from a horror book pertaining bog themes. If you read at night time prepare to be a little more on edge 😆
Thank you for the gifted copy!
Publishes - September 23rd
The synopsis - “ For fans of Midnight Mass comes a haunting new horromance. Something dreadful is festering in the old Thomas Bog. For years, it’s done what it has been taught to do—it swallows. But it’s done following orders.”
I personally was a fan of midnight mass, especially that ending, sheesh 😬 Bogs also intrigue me there’s just something naturally eery about them, the unknown of what’s inside and if there is danger lurking.
This book has many layers and themes such as love, grief, loss, religion, power, mental health and family. For a debut novel the author definition took on a large task of exploring all of these themes within a niche genre, and to give the author credit I think she did a great job and I look forward to following her career. There were times the writing style seemed to almost slip between YA and adult as though the author couldn’t really decide which direction to take, but I think with a little help from editing and experience she’s on to a promising career.
The content of the plot definitely came through on the creepy side which is excellent as that’s what you want from a horror book pertaining bog themes. If you read at night time prepare to be a little more on edge 😆
Thank you for the gifted copy!
Publishes - September 23rd
May 27, 2025
a harrowing, illuminating story of grief, love, legacy, and remembrance, teagan olivia king's debut novel SPIT BACK THE BONES is a beautiful immortalization of her late brother, an unflinching exploration of religion and power, and a searing tribute to the love of both blood family and found family. SPIT BACK THE BONES is a haunting horror-romance you absolutely do not want to miss, and i can't wait to see where king leads us next!
October 9, 2025
While the prose was beautiful at times, setting a descriptive scene, it also made the story hard to understand/follow. I think the characters could’ve been fleshed out a bit more, as I wasn’t a fan of any of them. I agree with other reviewers that the target audience might be more so YA OR New Adult.
Incredible cover art that draws you in for a closer look!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Turner Publishing/ Keylight Books for a copy!
Incredible cover art that draws you in for a closer look!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Turner Publishing/ Keylight Books for a copy!
Want to read
January 18, 2025I am beyond excited for this book. There are no words to explain my anticipation for this bog masterpiece.
September 6, 2025
✨ Initial Vibes
Creepy, atmospheric, and quietly devastating, Spit Back the Bones is the kind of mystery that seeps into your bones. It’s about belief, memory, and the weight of family, but also about love.
📖 What It’s About
Mila returns to her hometown after her sister Agatha goes missing. Three years earlier, their brother Jed vanished without a trace, and now the curse that haunts her family feels closer than ever. As Mila digs into the truth about her family, the town, the bog, and herself and her best friend Roe stands by her side. The deeper she goes, the more Mila begins to question everything she thought she knew.
❤️ What I Loved
• The mystery. The missing siblings, the bog, the rumors of a curse—it’s creepy without relying on cheap tricks. The resolution is satisfying and earned.
• The vibes. This is not a jump-scare horror story. It’s quiet dread and small-town rot, layered with emotional intensity and folklore-tinged unease. Perfect for fall or rainy afternoons.
• Mila. She’s flawed, hurting, and strong in a way that doesn’t look like resilience. I rooted for her the whole way.
• The slow-burn romance. Her relationship with Roe unfolds with tenderness and tension. It never overshadows the plot, but adds so much heart.
• The themes. Memory, power, history, belief, family, love. This book is doing a lot but it never feels overstuffed. Everything weaves together beautifully.
• The pacing. Honestly perfect. It builds tension without dragging and gives its characters time to breathe and grow.
💭 Final Thoughts
Spit Back the Bones is one of those stories that lingers long after the final page. It’s about ghosts not literal ones, necessarily, but the ghosts of guilt, inheritance, and unresolved grief. If you love small-town mysteries with a feminist edge, lyrical writing, and just the right amount of haunt, this book delivers.
🧠 Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(4 stars for Mila, Roe, and the deeply satisfying blend of mystery, atmosphere, and emotional depth.)
Creepy, atmospheric, and quietly devastating, Spit Back the Bones is the kind of mystery that seeps into your bones. It’s about belief, memory, and the weight of family, but also about love.
📖 What It’s About
Mila returns to her hometown after her sister Agatha goes missing. Three years earlier, their brother Jed vanished without a trace, and now the curse that haunts her family feels closer than ever. As Mila digs into the truth about her family, the town, the bog, and herself and her best friend Roe stands by her side. The deeper she goes, the more Mila begins to question everything she thought she knew.
❤️ What I Loved
• The mystery. The missing siblings, the bog, the rumors of a curse—it’s creepy without relying on cheap tricks. The resolution is satisfying and earned.
• The vibes. This is not a jump-scare horror story. It’s quiet dread and small-town rot, layered with emotional intensity and folklore-tinged unease. Perfect for fall or rainy afternoons.
• Mila. She’s flawed, hurting, and strong in a way that doesn’t look like resilience. I rooted for her the whole way.
• The slow-burn romance. Her relationship with Roe unfolds with tenderness and tension. It never overshadows the plot, but adds so much heart.
• The themes. Memory, power, history, belief, family, love. This book is doing a lot but it never feels overstuffed. Everything weaves together beautifully.
• The pacing. Honestly perfect. It builds tension without dragging and gives its characters time to breathe and grow.
💭 Final Thoughts
Spit Back the Bones is one of those stories that lingers long after the final page. It’s about ghosts not literal ones, necessarily, but the ghosts of guilt, inheritance, and unresolved grief. If you love small-town mysteries with a feminist edge, lyrical writing, and just the right amount of haunt, this book delivers.
🧠 Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(4 stars for Mila, Roe, and the deeply satisfying blend of mystery, atmosphere, and emotional depth.)
September 23, 2025
✨Spit Back The Bones by Teagan Olivia King ✨
Wishing @teaganoliviawrites a happy pub day! Thank you for sending me a copy of this beautiful book. And special thanks to @turnerpub / @keylightbooks for the copy as well!
Synopsis
Something sinister is lurking in the Thomas Bog. Mila reluctantly returns home after fleeing a year ago. Her brother went missing over three years ago and the case went cold fast. Her younger sister calls her back to celebrate going off to college, but when Mila arrives, she finds her sister has gone missing. Mila refuses to let her sisters case go cold. With almost no help from her mother and the police, Mila turns to the voices she hears from the bog. A bog that is buried deep in her family’s secrets.
My Thoughts
I truly loved this one. The writing is stunning! I found myself highlighting line after line! The novel has a thick atmosphere centered in a southern gothic town surrounding a bog. And I loved the bits of romance blended amongst the horror.
Vibes
🍂Bog horror
🍂Southern Gothic
🍂Religious trauma
🍂Family issues/secrets
🍂Romance
Similar Reads/Watches
🍂Midnight Mass
🍂The Toll by Cherie Priest
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wishing @teaganoliviawrites a happy pub day! Thank you for sending me a copy of this beautiful book. And special thanks to @turnerpub / @keylightbooks for the copy as well!
Synopsis
Something sinister is lurking in the Thomas Bog. Mila reluctantly returns home after fleeing a year ago. Her brother went missing over three years ago and the case went cold fast. Her younger sister calls her back to celebrate going off to college, but when Mila arrives, she finds her sister has gone missing. Mila refuses to let her sisters case go cold. With almost no help from her mother and the police, Mila turns to the voices she hears from the bog. A bog that is buried deep in her family’s secrets.
My Thoughts
I truly loved this one. The writing is stunning! I found myself highlighting line after line! The novel has a thick atmosphere centered in a southern gothic town surrounding a bog. And I loved the bits of romance blended amongst the horror.
Vibes
🍂Bog horror
🍂Southern Gothic
🍂Religious trauma
🍂Family issues/secrets
🍂Romance
Similar Reads/Watches
🍂Midnight Mass
🍂The Toll by Cherie Priest
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 5, 2025
I freaking loved Mila’s rage towards her mom, towards the sheriff, towards the reverend and the hypocrisy of the church. Give me all the angry women burning down corrupt institutions! Horror isn’t my usual genre and I struggled with the gory descriptions and with my inability to read at night lest I never sleep again, but I was drawn back again and again by Mila and Roe and Agnes and the need to know what would happen. The descriptions are so vivid I felt like I was watching the story play out on my eyelids. I love this one and can’t wait to read what Teagan puts out next! Congratulations, friend! 🩷
June 5, 2025
4.5 stars!
Mila’s brother vanished three years ago. Since then, she’s fled her hometown and the family’s bog, scared she’ll hear his voice calling from the water, like the other dead do. But when her sister asks her to come home for her graduation, Mila returns—only to find out her sister has vanished too. With the sheriff doing nothing and the reverend breathing down her neck, Mila and the reverend’s estranged son are the only ones willing to find out what really happened to her siblings... and why more and more people are disappearing into the bog.
I read this book in a single day, that’s how obsessed and addicted I was! I honestly don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it. The vibes were actual perfection. Atmospheric, spooky, haunting, chilling, strangely beautiful. It gave me the same vibes as Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew, just monstrously beautiful. I admit, I was a little confused at times about what the hell was actually happening, but I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know what'll happen.
Mila was full of so much anger, rage and bravery that I could feel all of it through the pages. All the female characters who got more page time were incredible—fierce, strong, unforgettable. And Roe, the reverend’s son, my sweet boy, was such a gem!
The writing style fit the story and the vibes perfectly. It felt simple at times (bordering on YA and then suddenly swinging into something darker and more adult) but it really worked overall. I also loved how the book explored religion and religious trauma in such a unique way. And the plot?? So original and fascinating, full of twists and turns. It constantly kept me on edge. And the romance—oh my god. I don’t even know how to describe it. It was so tender and sweet, and so uniquely done. It didn’t overwhelm the plot at all, it was just the perfect amount. Still thinking about it!
I’m so happy I got an ARC of this (thank you NetGalley and the publisher!). I’ve wanted to read it ever since it was announced, and it was just as good as I hoped it would be!
Mila’s brother vanished three years ago. Since then, she’s fled her hometown and the family’s bog, scared she’ll hear his voice calling from the water, like the other dead do. But when her sister asks her to come home for her graduation, Mila returns—only to find out her sister has vanished too. With the sheriff doing nothing and the reverend breathing down her neck, Mila and the reverend’s estranged son are the only ones willing to find out what really happened to her siblings... and why more and more people are disappearing into the bog.
I read this book in a single day, that’s how obsessed and addicted I was! I honestly don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it. The vibes were actual perfection. Atmospheric, spooky, haunting, chilling, strangely beautiful. It gave me the same vibes as Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew, just monstrously beautiful. I admit, I was a little confused at times about what the hell was actually happening, but I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know what'll happen.
Mila was full of so much anger, rage and bravery that I could feel all of it through the pages. All the female characters who got more page time were incredible—fierce, strong, unforgettable. And Roe, the reverend’s son, my sweet boy, was such a gem!
The writing style fit the story and the vibes perfectly. It felt simple at times (bordering on YA and then suddenly swinging into something darker and more adult) but it really worked overall. I also loved how the book explored religion and religious trauma in such a unique way. And the plot?? So original and fascinating, full of twists and turns. It constantly kept me on edge. And the romance—oh my god. I don’t even know how to describe it. It was so tender and sweet, and so uniquely done. It didn’t overwhelm the plot at all, it was just the perfect amount. Still thinking about it!
I’m so happy I got an ARC of this (thank you NetGalley and the publisher!). I’ve wanted to read it ever since it was announced, and it was just as good as I hoped it would be!
June 10, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
horror/ horromance is not typically a genre i lean towards but the cover is stunning and the title reeled me right in so i managed to get an arc on netgalley (thankyou!!). the description sounded intriguing and different from anything i’ve read and i did really enjoy the mysterious, haunting atmosphere and the writing style was painting a vivid picture of each scene in my mind. one thing i’d say is at some points the dialogue could’ve gone into a bit more in depth as it was feeling a tad rushed at times and I wish it was a bit longer!! overall i did really like it and I’d read more from this author. 🤌
horror/ horromance is not typically a genre i lean towards but the cover is stunning and the title reeled me right in so i managed to get an arc on netgalley (thankyou!!). the description sounded intriguing and different from anything i’ve read and i did really enjoy the mysterious, haunting atmosphere and the writing style was painting a vivid picture of each scene in my mind. one thing i’d say is at some points the dialogue could’ve gone into a bit more in depth as it was feeling a tad rushed at times and I wish it was a bit longer!! overall i did really like it and I’d read more from this author. 🤌
August 28, 2025
I love the premise of the book, but this jumped all over the place and needed a lot more editing. I feel like this would have been sooooo much better as a short story.
We follow Mila Thomas who comes back home three years after her brother Jed disappears. Upon arrival, she finds her mother still deep in alcohol-infused grief, the reverend speaking scripture in her mother's ear, and her sister missing.
The parts that I loved: there is a scene where Mila finally gets the story from her Grandma Ruby about what happened to the bog. Reading that felt like this was the bit of the story the author spent the most time on. It feels like the whole idea behind why this novel exists: A young woman finds magic in the bog. She wants to share that magic with the man she loves, but he twists that magic for his own gain. In her heartbreak and rage, she curses him. Inadvertently, she curses his bloodline and, in a way, her own. I would have started Chapter 1 with this story and gone from there.
I find myself more interested in what Cecil had going on than Roe, the Reverend, and Simon. I wish we had more focus on Cecil and Ruby instead of what we got here.
What I didn't love: I received this as an eARC from Net Galley, so I won't be adding any spoilers, but there were parts of this that just felt a little out of place (e.g. the cemetery scene after Mila speaks to Grandma Ruby...why did that need to happen right then?!?! Girl, tell him what you just learned!). There's also a lot of repetitiveness in descriptions of how Roe smells, Mila wondering how to stop what's happening but refusing to use the gift that would help her, "I'm a liar", what happens when she touches Roe, "what remains but the broken bits", etc.
Also, Mila always feels like she's slow to catch on. It's taxing.
I'm not exactly sure where we lost the plot, but it may have been right about the time when the bog starts talking about amassing its army and waiting for its general early into the book...It starts to lean heavily into YA for some reason. We could've cut that and still talked about the curse, the jealousy, and the anger the bog experienced.
With all that being said, this gets 3 stars from me. I would totally revisit this story if it were shorter and more refined. There's a really good story here, the execution was just not up to par.
We follow Mila Thomas who comes back home three years after her brother Jed disappears. Upon arrival, she finds her mother still deep in alcohol-infused grief, the reverend speaking scripture in her mother's ear, and her sister missing.
The parts that I loved: there is a scene where Mila finally gets the story from her Grandma Ruby about what happened to the bog. Reading that felt like this was the bit of the story the author spent the most time on. It feels like the whole idea behind why this novel exists: A young woman finds magic in the bog. She wants to share that magic with the man she loves, but he twists that magic for his own gain. In her heartbreak and rage, she curses him. Inadvertently, she curses his bloodline and, in a way, her own. I would have started Chapter 1 with this story and gone from there.
I find myself more interested in what Cecil had going on than Roe, the Reverend, and Simon. I wish we had more focus on Cecil and Ruby instead of what we got here.
What I didn't love: I received this as an eARC from Net Galley, so I won't be adding any spoilers, but there were parts of this that just felt a little out of place (e.g. the cemetery scene after Mila speaks to Grandma Ruby...why did that need to happen right then?!?! Girl, tell him what you just learned!). There's also a lot of repetitiveness in descriptions of how Roe smells, Mila wondering how to stop what's happening but refusing to use the gift that would help her, "I'm a liar", what happens when she touches Roe, "what remains but the broken bits", etc.
Also, Mila always feels like she's slow to catch on. It's taxing.
I'm not exactly sure where we lost the plot, but it may have been right about the time when the bog starts talking about amassing its army and waiting for its general early into the book...It starts to lean heavily into YA for some reason. We could've cut that and still talked about the curse, the jealousy, and the anger the bog experienced.
With all that being said, this gets 3 stars from me. I would totally revisit this story if it were shorter and more refined. There's a really good story here, the execution was just not up to par.
August 24, 2025
The writing in this book is phenomenal. It's heavy and dense and so evocative of the bog where the story is set. The author is incredibly skilled at atmospheric writing.
October 26, 2025
This one was sufficiently spooky, considering I was scared to walk down my hallway at night even though I live nowhere near a bog.
The Good:
• The story felt super original to me - nature horror is one of my favorite genres and I don't recall any that are very similar to this.
• Roe and Mila were really interesting, imperfect characters, which didn't always make me like them, but did make me want to see how they and their relationship would evolve.
• The storyline around her brother kept me in a chokehold. I REALLY wanted to know what happened to him.
The Bad:
• Though I think there's only one scene, the sex felt out of place. The tone came across too YA for it to feel right.
• The prose often tried too hard. If it been pulled back just a hair (or a full head), it would have been gorgeous.
Thank you NetGalley and Turner Publishing Company for providing me with this ARC.
The Good:
• The story felt super original to me - nature horror is one of my favorite genres and I don't recall any that are very similar to this.
• Roe and Mila were really interesting, imperfect characters, which didn't always make me like them, but did make me want to see how they and their relationship would evolve.
• The storyline around her brother kept me in a chokehold. I REALLY wanted to know what happened to him.
The Bad:
• Though I think there's only one scene, the sex felt out of place. The tone came across too YA for it to feel right.
• The prose often tried too hard. If it been pulled back just a hair (or a full head), it would have been gorgeous.
Thank you NetGalley and Turner Publishing Company for providing me with this ARC.
June 24, 2025
Thank you, Netgalley and Turner Publishing Company, for the advanced readers' copy. All opinions are my own.
2/5 stars. Look.. this book isn’t for me. I didn’t click with any of the characters and didn’t care what happened to any of them. The main female character was honestly extremely annoying, and I struggled to listen to any of the dialogue due to her behavior. The main love interest was boring, and I am glad that I don’t have to keep reading about how “innocent and good” he is. Roe could have been so much more than that. Honestly, that could be used to explain how I felt about all the characters. They could have been so much more, instead of the two or three words that get continuously used to describe them.
The setting was awesome, but it lost its dread and spooky factor after the fourth explanation of the characters going into the bog. I think the problem is that they went into the bog too much, if that makes sense. It made it seem that the place was safe when it wasn’t because of what haunted it. I will say that the use of flies was amazing and terrifying.
Calling this book a Horroromance doesn’t sit right with me. Just because the book had romantic scenes doesn’t make it a romance book, and the scene felt so jarring and out of place that when they did happen, I was completely thrown out of the rhythm of reading. I personally believe that the romance scene should be taken out and the main focus of the book should have been about the horror and grief themes.
Another thing, this book reads as a weird young adult novel that would randomly throw in these “adult” scenes (gore, the moment at the graveyard,ect) and then go straight back to the young adult writing style and it loses all of its momentum in these intense “adult” moments
2/5 stars. Look.. this book isn’t for me. I didn’t click with any of the characters and didn’t care what happened to any of them. The main female character was honestly extremely annoying, and I struggled to listen to any of the dialogue due to her behavior. The main love interest was boring, and I am glad that I don’t have to keep reading about how “innocent and good” he is. Roe could have been so much more than that. Honestly, that could be used to explain how I felt about all the characters. They could have been so much more, instead of the two or three words that get continuously used to describe them.
The setting was awesome, but it lost its dread and spooky factor after the fourth explanation of the characters going into the bog. I think the problem is that they went into the bog too much, if that makes sense. It made it seem that the place was safe when it wasn’t because of what haunted it. I will say that the use of flies was amazing and terrifying.
Calling this book a Horroromance doesn’t sit right with me. Just because the book had romantic scenes doesn’t make it a romance book, and the scene felt so jarring and out of place that when they did happen, I was completely thrown out of the rhythm of reading. I personally believe that the romance scene should be taken out and the main focus of the book should have been about the horror and grief themes.
Another thing, this book reads as a weird young adult novel that would randomly throw in these “adult” scenes (gore, the moment at the graveyard,ect) and then go straight back to the young adult writing style and it loses all of its momentum in these intense “adult” moments
July 18, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for a free ARC in return for an honest review.
In the essence, this story is fun: A cursed bog, missing people and a creepy atmosphere. I think as a reader you could tell too soon what was going on or what would be the clue of the story. That makes it, that the books reads very young adult, as I was frustrated why the characters themselves could not connect the dots.
As this is presented as an adult horror, I do think all through the story it felt more YA. The characterd all felt like high schoolers to me in their actiond and reactions and I had trouble seeing them as adults.
The main character, Mila, annoyed me to no end. She was rude and annoying and I don't really feel like her character had any growth at all. The romance fell a little flat for me and felt like it was only put in because the author wanted romance. I did not see the tension between Roe and Mila.
Overall, I think the story was a fun read, liked the bog vibes, but ultimately would've enjoyed it more if I would've gone in expecting something YA.
In the essence, this story is fun: A cursed bog, missing people and a creepy atmosphere. I think as a reader you could tell too soon what was going on or what would be the clue of the story. That makes it, that the books reads very young adult, as I was frustrated why the characters themselves could not connect the dots.
As this is presented as an adult horror, I do think all through the story it felt more YA. The characterd all felt like high schoolers to me in their actiond and reactions and I had trouble seeing them as adults.
The main character, Mila, annoyed me to no end. She was rude and annoying and I don't really feel like her character had any growth at all. The romance fell a little flat for me and felt like it was only put in because the author wanted romance. I did not see the tension between Roe and Mila.
Overall, I think the story was a fun read, liked the bog vibes, but ultimately would've enjoyed it more if I would've gone in expecting something YA.
June 16, 2025
Your next favorite small town horror that will leave you avoiding any kind of soggy wetlands (in the best way possible).
August 4, 2025
Out September 23rd, 2025
Something ancient and ravenous stirs in the Thomas Bog, and Teagan Olivia King dares you to listen to its whispers. Spit Back the Bones is not just a horromance—it’s a fever dream soaked in dread, where grief and guilt slither through the reeds like serpents. Mila Thomas fled her hometown to escape the voices of the dead, but when her sister vanishes, she’s dragged back into the mire of family secrets and supernatural horror. The bog doesn’t just swallow—it remembers. And now, it’s done obeying. King’s prose is hauntingly lyrical, like a lullaby sung by something that wants to eat you.
The atmosphere is suffocating in the best way—humid, heavy, and thick with the scent of rot and regret. As Mila confronts the town’s reverend and rekindles a fraught romance with his estranged son, the story pulses with tension. The bog isn’t just a setting—it’s a character, a malevolent force that watches, waits, and hungers. Each page drips with unease, and the deeper Mila digs, the more the line between reality and nightmare blurs. The dead speak, but they don’t always tell the truth. And some truths are better left buried.
This is a tale of female rage, religious trauma, and the kind of love that claws its way out of the grave. King masterfully blends folklore with psychological horror, crafting a narrative that feels both timeless and terrifying. Spit Back the Bones will leave you breathless, chilled, and desperate to know what lurks beneath the surface. Read it with the windows locked and the lights low—but don’t be surprised if you start hearing voices from the dark. The bog is calling. Will you answer?
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Keylight Books for this spooky ARC!
Something ancient and ravenous stirs in the Thomas Bog, and Teagan Olivia King dares you to listen to its whispers. Spit Back the Bones is not just a horromance—it’s a fever dream soaked in dread, where grief and guilt slither through the reeds like serpents. Mila Thomas fled her hometown to escape the voices of the dead, but when her sister vanishes, she’s dragged back into the mire of family secrets and supernatural horror. The bog doesn’t just swallow—it remembers. And now, it’s done obeying. King’s prose is hauntingly lyrical, like a lullaby sung by something that wants to eat you.
The atmosphere is suffocating in the best way—humid, heavy, and thick with the scent of rot and regret. As Mila confronts the town’s reverend and rekindles a fraught romance with his estranged son, the story pulses with tension. The bog isn’t just a setting—it’s a character, a malevolent force that watches, waits, and hungers. Each page drips with unease, and the deeper Mila digs, the more the line between reality and nightmare blurs. The dead speak, but they don’t always tell the truth. And some truths are better left buried.
This is a tale of female rage, religious trauma, and the kind of love that claws its way out of the grave. King masterfully blends folklore with psychological horror, crafting a narrative that feels both timeless and terrifying. Spit Back the Bones will leave you breathless, chilled, and desperate to know what lurks beneath the surface. Read it with the windows locked and the lights low—but don’t be surprised if you start hearing voices from the dark. The bog is calling. Will you answer?
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Keylight Books for this spooky ARC!
September 8, 2025
This was such a perfect spooky read for fall creepy, atmospheric, and impossible to put down. I really enjoyed how it blended horror, mystery, and family secrets into a story that kept me hooked from start to finish. Definitely one to add to your autumn TBR! 🍂👻
What it’s about:For years, the old Thomas Bog has swallowed everything in its path but now it’s done following orders. Three years after Mila Thomas’ brother went missing, she’s forced back home when her younger sister, Agatha, disappears too. Haunted by the voices of the dead rising from the bog, Mila teams up with the estranged son of the town reverend the boy she never got over to uncover the truth. But as more bodies surface, she realizes something darker and hungrier lurks beneath the waters, tied to her family and the town’s long-buried secrets.Creepy, heartfelt, and haunting Spit Back the Bones releases September 23rd and is the perfect read to welcome spooky season.
What it’s about:For years, the old Thomas Bog has swallowed everything in its path but now it’s done following orders. Three years after Mila Thomas’ brother went missing, she’s forced back home when her younger sister, Agatha, disappears too. Haunted by the voices of the dead rising from the bog, Mila teams up with the estranged son of the town reverend the boy she never got over to uncover the truth. But as more bodies surface, she realizes something darker and hungrier lurks beneath the waters, tied to her family and the town’s long-buried secrets.Creepy, heartfelt, and haunting Spit Back the Bones releases September 23rd and is the perfect read to welcome spooky season.
September 26, 2025
Gritty and delicious. A part of my Michigan soul was healed reading this book. This author uses imagery in the most captivating way. Big fan 5/5 for me. Brb going to the Bog now
October 4, 2025
My favourite sub-genre of horror executed in the most perfect way.
September 30, 2025
I’ve never read anything like this before, and I had such a good time with it. I already knew I was into horror movies, but it turns out horror books are totally my thing too
July 10, 2025
Arc provided by Edelweiss
One of my favourite subgenres is southern gothic horror, so i’m actually upset at how bad this was. It’s labeled as adult but the dialogue felt like a horrible teen netflix movie, and all the lead characters were annoying as shit. the writing and pacing was so clunky and erratic. it’s not enough to just repeat descriptions of a forest and a bog over and over again and call it worldbuilding.
I was skim reading by the last 20% and i’m just annoyed at my high hopes for this.
One of my favourite subgenres is southern gothic horror, so i’m actually upset at how bad this was. It’s labeled as adult but the dialogue felt like a horrible teen netflix movie, and all the lead characters were annoying as shit. the writing and pacing was so clunky and erratic. it’s not enough to just repeat descriptions of a forest and a bog over and over again and call it worldbuilding.
I was skim reading by the last 20% and i’m just annoyed at my high hopes for this.
July 24, 2025
It’s not my typical genre to read, that’s for sure. Pretty sure 85% of the time I read this book, my face was permanently in these moods: 🤨🤢😰🤯🫣😵💫 and the other 15% was 🥹🥰😌 (maybe truly a 95/5 situation).
I love the stories and worlds that Teagan always writes, drawn from real life experiences and places, of which northern Michigan I am familiar with! And not all happy memories either 🥹
I had a significantly traumatic event as a child involving black flies and Lake Superior. So this story was hauntingly horrible and a terrible reminder. 🤣 of which I think was the point 🥲
I’m really happy that this book, although included some romantic inclinations, wasn’t the entire plot. Like, so tastefully done, thank you 🙏🏻
If you’re looking for a book that is horror, thriller, some sprinkles of romance, and something that resembles the dead marshes, add this shit to your list. 🤌🏻 I am very glad it wasn’t too scary or horrible though, because I would’ve DNFed, respectfully, if it was too much for my lil smol heart bc I’m sensitive asf.
Spice: 2.25/5
I received this book as an ARC and in no way influences my rating. I wouldn’t personally have picked up this book off of a shelf to begin with because this is a new genre for me. However, I’ve read other works by this author previously and fell in love with her world building, descriptive language, and relatable characters and story-lines. You feel like you’re in the settings she creates, and that is a rare gift. It’s not just telling you about something or somewhere, it’s as if you’re part of her stories… “you’re a part of this world, aren’t you??” - Meriadoc Brandybuck
Excited for her Romantasy coming out next year bc that’s my ish 👀😛
I love the stories and worlds that Teagan always writes, drawn from real life experiences and places, of which northern Michigan I am familiar with! And not all happy memories either 🥹
I had a significantly traumatic event as a child involving black flies and Lake Superior. So this story was hauntingly horrible and a terrible reminder. 🤣 of which I think was the point 🥲
I’m really happy that this book, although included some romantic inclinations, wasn’t the entire plot. Like, so tastefully done, thank you 🙏🏻
If you’re looking for a book that is horror, thriller, some sprinkles of romance, and something that resembles the dead marshes, add this shit to your list. 🤌🏻 I am very glad it wasn’t too scary or horrible though, because I would’ve DNFed, respectfully, if it was too much for my lil smol heart bc I’m sensitive asf.
Spice: 2.25/5
I received this book as an ARC and in no way influences my rating. I wouldn’t personally have picked up this book off of a shelf to begin with because this is a new genre for me. However, I’ve read other works by this author previously and fell in love with her world building, descriptive language, and relatable characters and story-lines. You feel like you’re in the settings she creates, and that is a rare gift. It’s not just telling you about something or somewhere, it’s as if you’re part of her stories… “you’re a part of this world, aren’t you??” - Meriadoc Brandybuck
Excited for her Romantasy coming out next year bc that’s my ish 👀😛
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