What do you think?
We Sent Them Down Singing
“Zell Dorsey was the Devil. Not even a man as kind as you stands a chance you when the Devil sets you in his sights.”
In the small coal-mining town of Jubilee,West Virginia, Phinnie “Skinny” Caldwell has spent thirteen years haunted by the day her mama ran off to the desert with a mysterious man named Zell Dorsey. Taken in by her iron-willed grandmother, the two mourn their shared loss and Skinny learns to brace herself for just about anything―except Zell’s return.
But Zell’s homecoming dredges up more than unanswered questions. A thick, oily sickness is spreading through the community, turning everyone Skinny loves into violent creatures. Desperate to save her town and learn the truth of what really happened to her mama, Skinny turns to her best friend―and the closest thing she’s ever had to a father―Happy Walker. Only nothing can prepare them for what they’ll find. Behind Zell Dorsey’s human façade is a creature older than the Appalachians themselves. And he’s come back to finish what he started.
This book is a testament to the resilience of grieving mothers, the powerful embrace of found family, and the tenacity of the beautiful people of Appalachia, a place where the accents sing and the tea is always sweet.
In the small coal-mining town of Jubilee,West Virginia, Phinnie “Skinny” Caldwell has spent thirteen years haunted by the day her mama ran off to the desert with a mysterious man named Zell Dorsey. Taken in by her iron-willed grandmother, the two mourn their shared loss and Skinny learns to brace herself for just about anything―except Zell’s return.
But Zell’s homecoming dredges up more than unanswered questions. A thick, oily sickness is spreading through the community, turning everyone Skinny loves into violent creatures. Desperate to save her town and learn the truth of what really happened to her mama, Skinny turns to her best friend―and the closest thing she’s ever had to a father―Happy Walker. Only nothing can prepare them for what they’ll find. Behind Zell Dorsey’s human façade is a creature older than the Appalachians themselves. And he’s come back to finish what he started.
This book is a testament to the resilience of grieving mothers, the powerful embrace of found family, and the tenacity of the beautiful people of Appalachia, a place where the accents sing and the tea is always sweet.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published July 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 31, 2026
Beautiful cover, really cool premise, poor execution. The dialogue was so cheesy at times and the stakes never felt the same - who dies? Who lives? What kind of “maternal grief” thriller am I reading? Etc. The ending (pre-final (penultimate) chapter) saved it for me, but then the “epilogue” ending pulled me back down again. Would read more from this author.
September 30, 2026
This is a good book that I feel like suffers a bit especially near the end.
I expected it to be mostly about Appalachia based on the blurb but half the book is in Arizona. You would also immediately think it would be folk horror, but it’s more cosmic.
I also felt like it could have touched just a little harder on the way coal companies chewed up my fellow Appalachians and spit them out when they were done. Some other ideals presented felt kinda forced and awkward. If nothing else they were kinda jarring and took me out of the natural flow of the story…even if they are things I agree with they begin to feel a bit like a check list. Though that’s a bit unfair to say because I’m not the author and it’s not up to me to decide what they feel.
This may get some hate, but I feel like the manuscript made the rounds and an editor decided it would be best to insert a bunch of modern ideals and discourse into it to make it sell more easily. The type of stuff that will fan the social media algorithm flames.
So that’s the negatives.
Positives are that the story was very interesting even if it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. It’s a page turner for sure. Some very creepy imagery. Great characters overall but a couple felt a little too stereotypical. I also loved reading about places I’ve been such as the titanic museum in Piegon Forge.
I say if you like cosmic horror then you’ll like this. If you like a good horror mystery that has some police procedural elements you’ll enjoy it.
It reminds me quite a bit of the Jim Chee novels by Tony Hillerman.
It gets 4 stars because if it wasn’t that good I wouldn’t have finished it in an evening.
I expected it to be mostly about Appalachia based on the blurb but half the book is in Arizona. You would also immediately think it would be folk horror, but it’s more cosmic.
I also felt like it could have touched just a little harder on the way coal companies chewed up my fellow Appalachians and spit them out when they were done. Some other ideals presented felt kinda forced and awkward. If nothing else they were kinda jarring and took me out of the natural flow of the story…even if they are things I agree with they begin to feel a bit like a check list. Though that’s a bit unfair to say because I’m not the author and it’s not up to me to decide what they feel.
This may get some hate, but I feel like the manuscript made the rounds and an editor decided it would be best to insert a bunch of modern ideals and discourse into it to make it sell more easily. The type of stuff that will fan the social media algorithm flames.
So that’s the negatives.
Positives are that the story was very interesting even if it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. It’s a page turner for sure. Some very creepy imagery. Great characters overall but a couple felt a little too stereotypical. I also loved reading about places I’ve been such as the titanic museum in Piegon Forge.
I say if you like cosmic horror then you’ll like this. If you like a good horror mystery that has some police procedural elements you’ll enjoy it.
It reminds me quite a bit of the Jim Chee novels by Tony Hillerman.
It gets 4 stars because if it wasn’t that good I wouldn’t have finished it in an evening.
July 21, 2026
I absolutely loved the writing style in this one. Edwardson seamlessly interweaves multiple point of view narratives together, each with their own voice without the stories feeling clunky or forced. The atmosphere built is also wonderfully gripping... but I just didn't love the plot. From the description and blurb, this felt right up my street but the more I read, the less I wanted to carry on. The folkloric elements of this broached something beyond my comprehension, teasing towards an abstract cosmic horror that just didn't draw me in as much as I had wanted.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2026
This was not what I expected from reading the cover blurb. However, it was very creepy. The ending was a little too much for me, with its cosmic horror aspect. But overall, this was an enjoyable read. I was bothered by the character names. Too many nicknames. And I didn't feel the Appalachian setting. It read like any mountain town anywhere. Half the book took place in Arizona, and seriously the whole book could have been set there as far as I was concerned.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Page Street Horror for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“We Sent Them Down Singing” by Libby Edwardson is one of those horror books that doesn’t just try to scare you; it tries to haunt you emotionally, and honestly? It absolutely succeeds. This book felt like old-school Southern/Appalachian horror in the best possible way: slow, atmospheric, deeply unsettling, and packed with grief, folklore, generational trauma, and the kind of creeping dread that settles into your bones.
The setting of Jubilee, West Virginia completely stole the show for me. The entire town feels weighed down by coal dust, poverty, old secrets, and inherited pain. Libby Edwardson writes Appalachia with so much heart and respect that the setting feels alive the entire time. The mountains, the mines, the folklore, the accents, the community; everything feels rich and authentic without ever romanticizing the uglier parts of it.
At the center of the story is Phinnie “Skinny” Caldwell, who has spent years haunted by the disappearance of her mother and the terrifying man tied to it: Zell Dorsey. When Zell suddenly returns to town thirteen years later, Skinny becomes determined to uncover the truth about what happened all those years ago. And from there, the story spirals into something deeply emotional, horrifying, and honestly kind of impossible to fully explain without spoiling it.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the found family dynamic, especially Skinny’s relationship with Happy Walker, her school bus driver and basically her father figure. In a story filled with darkness and monstrousness, Happy brings so much warmth and humanity to the book. The relationships here feel incredibly raw and genuine, and that emotional core is what makes the horror hit even harder.
And speaking of the horror, this book is definitely creepy. Not necessarily nonstop jump-scare horror, but the kind that slowly crawls under your skin and makes everything feel wrong. There’s this constant sense of unease hanging over every page, like the mountains themselves know something terrible is coming. The body horror especially gets very disturbing at times; there are scenes in this book that are genuinely hard to shake afterward.
What I loved most is how the story blurs the line between human evil and supernatural evil. Zell Dorsey is honestly horrifying because even before the truly monstrous elements show up, he already feels terrifyingly real. The book keeps asking what makes someone a monster, and whether grief, cruelty, and violence can infect entire communities over generations.
At the same time, this book is shockingly emotional. Beneath all the horror is this heartbreaking story about mothers, grief, loss, love, survival, and the ways communities carry pain through generations. There were moments that genuinely made me emotional, which I wasn’t fully expecting going into a horror novel.
That said, I can definitely see this being a “works for you or doesn’t” type of read. The story sometimes feels dense with ideas, characters, folklore, and emotional themes all layered together at once. It’s not a super fast-paced action-heavy horror novel. But personally, I think the atmosphere and emotional depth are what make it memorable.
Overall, “We Sent Them Down Singing” is a haunting Appalachian horror debut filled with eerie folklore, disturbing body horror, found family, grief, and deeply human emotion. It’s unsettling, heartbreaking, strangely beautiful, and the kind of book that lingers long after you finish it. Perfect for those who love atmospheric horror where the emotional wounds cut just as deep as the monsters do.
“We Sent Them Down Singing” by Libby Edwardson is one of those horror books that doesn’t just try to scare you; it tries to haunt you emotionally, and honestly? It absolutely succeeds. This book felt like old-school Southern/Appalachian horror in the best possible way: slow, atmospheric, deeply unsettling, and packed with grief, folklore, generational trauma, and the kind of creeping dread that settles into your bones.
The setting of Jubilee, West Virginia completely stole the show for me. The entire town feels weighed down by coal dust, poverty, old secrets, and inherited pain. Libby Edwardson writes Appalachia with so much heart and respect that the setting feels alive the entire time. The mountains, the mines, the folklore, the accents, the community; everything feels rich and authentic without ever romanticizing the uglier parts of it.
At the center of the story is Phinnie “Skinny” Caldwell, who has spent years haunted by the disappearance of her mother and the terrifying man tied to it: Zell Dorsey. When Zell suddenly returns to town thirteen years later, Skinny becomes determined to uncover the truth about what happened all those years ago. And from there, the story spirals into something deeply emotional, horrifying, and honestly kind of impossible to fully explain without spoiling it.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the found family dynamic, especially Skinny’s relationship with Happy Walker, her school bus driver and basically her father figure. In a story filled with darkness and monstrousness, Happy brings so much warmth and humanity to the book. The relationships here feel incredibly raw and genuine, and that emotional core is what makes the horror hit even harder.
And speaking of the horror, this book is definitely creepy. Not necessarily nonstop jump-scare horror, but the kind that slowly crawls under your skin and makes everything feel wrong. There’s this constant sense of unease hanging over every page, like the mountains themselves know something terrible is coming. The body horror especially gets very disturbing at times; there are scenes in this book that are genuinely hard to shake afterward.
What I loved most is how the story blurs the line between human evil and supernatural evil. Zell Dorsey is honestly horrifying because even before the truly monstrous elements show up, he already feels terrifyingly real. The book keeps asking what makes someone a monster, and whether grief, cruelty, and violence can infect entire communities over generations.
At the same time, this book is shockingly emotional. Beneath all the horror is this heartbreaking story about mothers, grief, loss, love, survival, and the ways communities carry pain through generations. There were moments that genuinely made me emotional, which I wasn’t fully expecting going into a horror novel.
That said, I can definitely see this being a “works for you or doesn’t” type of read. The story sometimes feels dense with ideas, characters, folklore, and emotional themes all layered together at once. It’s not a super fast-paced action-heavy horror novel. But personally, I think the atmosphere and emotional depth are what make it memorable.
Overall, “We Sent Them Down Singing” is a haunting Appalachian horror debut filled with eerie folklore, disturbing body horror, found family, grief, and deeply human emotion. It’s unsettling, heartbreaking, strangely beautiful, and the kind of book that lingers long after you finish it. Perfect for those who love atmospheric horror where the emotional wounds cut just as deep as the monsters do.
September 19, 2026
Great title & cover but the book's feels like catching a few episodes from the season 4 of a series I've never heard of before. I'm fundamentally incompatible with the writing style - it does not produce detailed scenes in my mind which is how I interact with the stories. This feels like photos of moments in darkness taken with flash on - disorienting.
Great concept but also an extremely frustrating read - 1.5⭐ rounded up.
⋆｡𖦹°‧★𖦹₊✧*ೃ༄ ⋆｡★𖦹₊✧ ⋆˚.࿐॰ॱ✧
The what bacteria. Hold on go back to that. What.
I'm like 60% in and still don't know the characters and can't picture the exact place this takes in. The later might be me not being from USA and having no concept of wherever this is happening (desert?.. But also forest mountains?.. I don't really want to study NA geography for this).
??? The guy is pre-life on Earth?? Is he the bacteria? I'm actually lost. Is this like the IT situation?..
The city turned into a Klyntar infestation. Just choosing to interpret it as a spin on symbiotes.
Still no sense of the place and space any of this is happening in. Can't get anything to visualize from - no establishing "shots" of the scenery. Can't really picture anyone beyond some small specific traits (eye and hair color?). I feel faceblind.
Most of the names feel like kid nicknames. "Skinny" is impossible to take seriously.
Man, the cover is great, though.
Ah, so it's a Lovecraftian coal/oil industry metaphor.
Iapetus ocean mentioned. Makes me want to go engage with something about the early Earth ecology.
It's curious how the relationship with the mining industry is different in USA. My grandparents were coal miners that worked in the East of the country for decades. It's the reason why they were able to buy a house in their village - it was a well-paid job during the Soviets. My father worked in Uranium mines for half a decade, it's why he has a nice pension now (well, nice-ish - the law officers and the judges have much much much higher pensions ugh 😑).
Well, it's over. The Good wins. Good for them.
Great concept but also an extremely frustrating read - 1.5⭐ rounded up.
⋆｡𖦹°‧★𖦹₊✧*ೃ༄ ⋆｡★𖦹₊✧ ⋆˚.࿐॰ॱ✧
The what bacteria. Hold on go back to that. What.
I'm like 60% in and still don't know the characters and can't picture the exact place this takes in. The later might be me not being from USA and having no concept of wherever this is happening (desert?.. But also forest mountains?.. I don't really want to study NA geography for this).
??? The guy is pre-life on Earth?? Is he the bacteria? I'm actually lost. Is this like the IT situation?..
The city turned into a Klyntar infestation. Just choosing to interpret it as a spin on symbiotes.
Still no sense of the place and space any of this is happening in. Can't get anything to visualize from - no establishing "shots" of the scenery. Can't really picture anyone beyond some small specific traits (eye and hair color?). I feel faceblind.
Most of the names feel like kid nicknames. "Skinny" is impossible to take seriously.
Man, the cover is great, though.
Ah, so it's a Lovecraftian coal/oil industry metaphor.
Iapetus ocean mentioned. Makes me want to go engage with something about the early Earth ecology.
It's curious how the relationship with the mining industry is different in USA. My grandparents were coal miners that worked in the East of the country for decades. It's the reason why they were able to buy a house in their village - it was a well-paid job during the Soviets. My father worked in Uranium mines for half a decade, it's why he has a nice pension now (well, nice-ish - the law officers and the judges have much much much higher pensions ugh 😑).
Well, it's over. The Good wins. Good for them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There was something about this book that felt very old-school horror to me in the best way. Not flashy or overly commercialized horror, but the kind that slowly creeps under your skin and makes everything feel slightly off. The setting of Jubilee, West Virginia was probably my favorite part of the entire book. Libby Edwardson really knows how to create atmosphere, and this story feels heavy with grief, secrets, coal dust, and generational pain from the very beginning.
I loved the Appalachian folklore elements and the emotional side of the story just as much as the horror itself. Skinny felt raw and believable, and the relationships in this book carried a lot of heart. Happy Walker especially stood out to me because he brought warmth into an otherwise dark and unsettling story.
The horror here is more unsettling than outright terrifying. There are definitely some disturbing body horror moments, but for me the strongest part was the constant feeling of dread hanging over everything. You know something bad is coming long before it gets there.
At times the story did feel a little overloaded with ideas and characters, and there were moments where I found myself wanting the plot to tighten up a bit more. But overall, I still think this was a really strong and memorable debut, especially for readers who love atmospheric horror with emotional depth instead of nonstop action.
This feels like a book horror readers are either going to completely connect with or struggle with depending on their reading mood. For me, I appreciated it more for the writing, atmosphere, and emotional themes than for the scares themselves.
I’d probably rate this around 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for the eARC.
I loved the Appalachian folklore elements and the emotional side of the story just as much as the horror itself. Skinny felt raw and believable, and the relationships in this book carried a lot of heart. Happy Walker especially stood out to me because he brought warmth into an otherwise dark and unsettling story.
The horror here is more unsettling than outright terrifying. There are definitely some disturbing body horror moments, but for me the strongest part was the constant feeling of dread hanging over everything. You know something bad is coming long before it gets there.
At times the story did feel a little overloaded with ideas and characters, and there were moments where I found myself wanting the plot to tighten up a bit more. But overall, I still think this was a really strong and memorable debut, especially for readers who love atmospheric horror with emotional depth instead of nonstop action.
This feels like a book horror readers are either going to completely connect with or struggle with depending on their reading mood. For me, I appreciated it more for the writing, atmosphere, and emotional themes than for the scares themselves.
I’d probably rate this around 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Thank you Goodreads and Libby Edwardson for a free ARC of this book.
I gave this a 3 star rating because I can see it's very well written but it wasn't for me.
The things I liked:
1) I grew up in the Appalachian mountains and this book really did bring out the small mountain town vibes. It was nostalgic and Edwardson captures the atmosphere perfectly.
2) the horror elements were creepy and again, Edwardson knows how to build creepy small mountain town atmosphere.
Things I disliked:
1) the character names. We have
Skinny/phinnie
Junebug
Shade
Verlie Meeks
Happy
Mamaw/kitty
Sheriff bravo
Deputy lamb
Fronie
Cordie
Andy Dafoe
Zell
Pastor Aster
Teenzy
Unfortunately I just couldn't take the names seriously. I wasn't sure if I was in a weird dream state the entire book or if the names were chosen specifically as descriptors of that character. Like a small child being called "teenzy" like "teensy" with a "z". Or "Meeks" because he is meek. These didn't sound like real people to me.
2) because they didn't sound like real people to me, I didn't care about the characters. I honestly didn't care what happens to anyone in this book.
3) it's very Stephen King style. Horror but weird horror with the trope of a character playing the devil role. It's not my kind if horror book. It goes way beyond just "people turning into violent oily creatures" which is what I was here for.
4) too many children and too much baby talk. Teenzy's introduction was about when I rolled my eyes and stopped caring about the story.
So overall it was worth a read and the author is very talented but unfortunately my own preferences kept me from giving it more than 3 stars. But if you like Stephen King, you'll probably like this too.
I gave this a 3 star rating because I can see it's very well written but it wasn't for me.
The things I liked:
1) I grew up in the Appalachian mountains and this book really did bring out the small mountain town vibes. It was nostalgic and Edwardson captures the atmosphere perfectly.
2) the horror elements were creepy and again, Edwardson knows how to build creepy small mountain town atmosphere.
Things I disliked:
1) the character names. We have
Skinny/phinnie
Junebug
Shade
Verlie Meeks
Happy
Mamaw/kitty
Sheriff bravo
Deputy lamb
Fronie
Cordie
Andy Dafoe
Zell
Pastor Aster
Teenzy
Unfortunately I just couldn't take the names seriously. I wasn't sure if I was in a weird dream state the entire book or if the names were chosen specifically as descriptors of that character. Like a small child being called "teenzy" like "teensy" with a "z". Or "Meeks" because he is meek. These didn't sound like real people to me.
2) because they didn't sound like real people to me, I didn't care about the characters. I honestly didn't care what happens to anyone in this book.
3) it's very Stephen King style. Horror but weird horror with the trope of a character playing the devil role. It's not my kind if horror book. It goes way beyond just "people turning into violent oily creatures" which is what I was here for.
4) too many children and too much baby talk. Teenzy's introduction was about when I rolled my eyes and stopped caring about the story.
So overall it was worth a read and the author is very talented but unfortunately my own preferences kept me from giving it more than 3 stars. But if you like Stephen King, you'll probably like this too.
September 30, 2026
Oh my god! Where to start with this. I’m clearly in the minority but for such an interesting premise, this was one of the most boring books i have read! It started off really well- the writing and storytelling were reminiscent of Stephen King and I was excited with the first couple of chapters. But after that, the pacing got totally messy, the characters were poorly developed, the timelines and locations kept changing without really being established and the story became a drag.
The characters were so annoying- I didn’t care about a single person in this story, including Skinny or her mamas. Her time with Happy is just irritating, not tender or moving.
Zell’s origin story is spotty and vague. Why is he a man, how is he a man? What is the deal with him and Charlie? What is the deal with him and Skinny? If he’s all powerful, why didn’t he come directly for Skinny instead of going after every single person around her? I’m at 80% when I am posting this review (out of sheer frustration) - so I’m not sure if it is explained later…but if I have fundamental questions 80% in, that’s a problem.
And what’s with the names?! Felt like I was reading a comic book.
Phinnie (Skinny) Glow Caldwell
Rey Garcia
Zell Dorsey
Shade Altaha
Happy Walker
Wes Bravo
Palestine Beck
Dice Lambert
Update: I just made myself finish this book and the last 20% was, if possible, even worse! Cordie is absorbed by the Iapetus and then she wakes up when she senses Phinny is trying to destroy Zell by killing herself? The Iapetus pushes Cordie out to save her child…WTF!
This went from a promising start to the worst book I have read in a long time.
The characters were so annoying- I didn’t care about a single person in this story, including Skinny or her mamas. Her time with Happy is just irritating, not tender or moving.
Zell’s origin story is spotty and vague. Why is he a man, how is he a man? What is the deal with him and Charlie? What is the deal with him and Skinny? If he’s all powerful, why didn’t he come directly for Skinny instead of going after every single person around her? I’m at 80% when I am posting this review (out of sheer frustration) - so I’m not sure if it is explained later…but if I have fundamental questions 80% in, that’s a problem.
And what’s with the names?! Felt like I was reading a comic book.
Phinnie (Skinny) Glow Caldwell
Rey Garcia
Zell Dorsey
Shade Altaha
Happy Walker
Wes Bravo
Palestine Beck
Dice Lambert
Update: I just made myself finish this book and the last 20% was, if possible, even worse! Cordie is absorbed by the Iapetus and then she wakes up when she senses Phinny is trying to destroy Zell by killing herself? The Iapetus pushes Cordie out to save her child…WTF!
This went from a promising start to the worst book I have read in a long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⛰️🏜
Right as the author said the in the acknowledgements, We Sent Them Down Singing is a love letter to Appalachia. Beautiful and original book that shows a lot of history, language, and character of this region.
I loved the way all the POVs flowed naturally into one another with each chapter change — and sometimes even within them, creating a full logical and diverse picture along with the effect of us being mere bystanders of the events.
The horror worldbuilding is carefully thought through and replicates nothing I've seen before. The plot surprises with original ways to solve what might've been some issues we're used to seeing in stories.
As the narration flows through so different sets of eyes I can't say that I loved all the main characters as people, but all were great in the plot and shown in their own unique style and way. I loved the ones I was meant to and they were true rays of sunshine that slip through the pages to us.
It had an interesting effect I sometimes meet in books with writing style as overwhelmingly good as here. They feel as they are thrice their size and no matter how fast you want to get to the further events, it languishes you in a snail pace through the words.
I don't have enough words as beautiful as this book to describe all what I've experienced reading it, so just go read it and let drift you away as it did me through this definitely worth going on journey.
- - -
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Right as the author said the in the acknowledgements, We Sent Them Down Singing is a love letter to Appalachia. Beautiful and original book that shows a lot of history, language, and character of this region.
I loved the way all the POVs flowed naturally into one another with each chapter change — and sometimes even within them, creating a full logical and diverse picture along with the effect of us being mere bystanders of the events.
The horror worldbuilding is carefully thought through and replicates nothing I've seen before. The plot surprises with original ways to solve what might've been some issues we're used to seeing in stories.
As the narration flows through so different sets of eyes I can't say that I loved all the main characters as people, but all were great in the plot and shown in their own unique style and way. I loved the ones I was meant to and they were true rays of sunshine that slip through the pages to us.
It had an interesting effect I sometimes meet in books with writing style as overwhelmingly good as here. They feel as they are thrice their size and no matter how fast you want to get to the further events, it languishes you in a snail pace through the words.
I don't have enough words as beautiful as this book to describe all what I've experienced reading it, so just go read it and let drift you away as it did me through this definitely worth going on journey.
- - -
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!
July 22, 2026
4.5⭐️
We Sent Them Down Singing is an epic horror novel that grabs you and never lets go. Following several different points of view as secrets are uncovered and a small West Virginia town is threatened, it was haunting and dark. It was so atmospheric, eerie, and left me feeling unsettled the whole way through.
There was so much to this book that I don’t even know where to start. The Appalachian setting was what drew me in and it did not disappoint. Combining poverty, trauma, exploitation, and coal mining, this book perfectly captured Appalachian culture and history in a beautiful way. The writing style was so descriptive and lush. The characters and revolving POVs really made this story. Everyone and everything felt so alive and real.
One problem I’ve had with horror books is the lack of real stakes. However, this book was NOT afraid to go there. There were so many moments that left my jaw on the floor in disbelief. The stakes were HIGH and I never knew what was coming next!
I’ve seen other reviews compare We Sent Them Down Singing to an old-school horror book and I couldn’t agree more. It truly felt like a Stephen King novel and had major It: Welcome to Derry vibes! If you love horror books that showcase a small town coming together to fight back against an evil entity, you will love this! It’s full of Appalachian culture, complex and haunting villains, and found family. I would recommend this to any and all horror fans!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Page Street Horror for the ARC in exchange for my review!
We Sent Them Down Singing is an epic horror novel that grabs you and never lets go. Following several different points of view as secrets are uncovered and a small West Virginia town is threatened, it was haunting and dark. It was so atmospheric, eerie, and left me feeling unsettled the whole way through.
There was so much to this book that I don’t even know where to start. The Appalachian setting was what drew me in and it did not disappoint. Combining poverty, trauma, exploitation, and coal mining, this book perfectly captured Appalachian culture and history in a beautiful way. The writing style was so descriptive and lush. The characters and revolving POVs really made this story. Everyone and everything felt so alive and real.
One problem I’ve had with horror books is the lack of real stakes. However, this book was NOT afraid to go there. There were so many moments that left my jaw on the floor in disbelief. The stakes were HIGH and I never knew what was coming next!
I’ve seen other reviews compare We Sent Them Down Singing to an old-school horror book and I couldn’t agree more. It truly felt like a Stephen King novel and had major It: Welcome to Derry vibes! If you love horror books that showcase a small town coming together to fight back against an evil entity, you will love this! It’s full of Appalachian culture, complex and haunting villains, and found family. I would recommend this to any and all horror fans!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Page Street Horror for the ARC in exchange for my review!
July 30, 2026
This was an amazing Appalachian horror novel with strong folk horror elements. I loved the characters, really appreciated the writing style, loved the pacing, and the fact that my attention was held captive throughout the entire story. Like, I wasn’t bored at any point during this wild ride. The book just felt unique and special to me. The story, the horror, and the violence were intense, but the characters made me feel safe and protected. You could just feel the love radiating between the main characters throughout the story.
At its core, this is a story of loss and the desperate attempt to salvage and repair what was torn away and broken.
It all begins when, at just two years old, our main character, Phinnie “Skinny” Caldwell, is left at a diner after she and her mother go on a trip with her mom’s new man, Mr. Zell Dorsey. Her mom disappears, and so does Zell. The story picks up 13 years later and follows Skinny, her grandma, and Happy Walker, her school bus driver and the closest thing she has to a father, when Zell suddenly shows back up in town and unspeakable horrors follow. Zell isn’t just a man. He is something far darker, more powerful, and more ancient than anyone could have expected.
Overall, this was a really fun read, and I definitely think it’s worth checking out!!
At its core, this is a story of loss and the desperate attempt to salvage and repair what was torn away and broken.
It all begins when, at just two years old, our main character, Phinnie “Skinny” Caldwell, is left at a diner after she and her mother go on a trip with her mom’s new man, Mr. Zell Dorsey. Her mom disappears, and so does Zell. The story picks up 13 years later and follows Skinny, her grandma, and Happy Walker, her school bus driver and the closest thing she has to a father, when Zell suddenly shows back up in town and unspeakable horrors follow. Zell isn’t just a man. He is something far darker, more powerful, and more ancient than anyone could have expected.
Overall, this was a really fun read, and I definitely think it’s worth checking out!!
September 13, 2026
Reading a book set in the place you grew up is an interesting experience, and a new one for me.
I never thought I'd read a book about this region that didn't include The Mothman, or treat the communities there with care and kindness. Appalachia is often the butt of a joke (thanks in no small part to JD Vance) full of hillbillies who'd rather do OxyContin or make meth, or have the sense to do something like go to college and leave their podunk town. These are real communities full of struggling people left behind and forgotten by the systems in place designed to keep them down.
Libby Edwardson creates characters who are vibrant and resilient. She takes the time to make you care about their struggles and their triumphs. I see people I know in every character she puts on the page, without making them a stereotype. Even when a monster besets the fictional town of Jubilee, the town fights to keep their identity and survive.
Appalachian Eldritch Horror should be a recognized genre. These ancient hills are full of secrets, sorrow, and loss. It's the perfect setting for a spooky story about an evil older than humanity itself to take root.
I never thought I'd read a book about this region that didn't include The Mothman, or treat the communities there with care and kindness. Appalachia is often the butt of a joke (thanks in no small part to JD Vance) full of hillbillies who'd rather do OxyContin or make meth, or have the sense to do something like go to college and leave their podunk town. These are real communities full of struggling people left behind and forgotten by the systems in place designed to keep them down.
Libby Edwardson creates characters who are vibrant and resilient. She takes the time to make you care about their struggles and their triumphs. I see people I know in every character she puts on the page, without making them a stereotype. Even when a monster besets the fictional town of Jubilee, the town fights to keep their identity and survive.
Appalachian Eldritch Horror should be a recognized genre. These ancient hills are full of secrets, sorrow, and loss. It's the perfect setting for a spooky story about an evil older than humanity itself to take root.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed this book. I feel it was an accurate and empathetic representation of Appalachia and the rich characters who call the mountains home.
I am also left so confused by the end! It feels like I missed something; some important detail about the Iapetus or how Zell Dorsey functioned, because I still don't quite understand the connection between Phinnie's family and the creature from beneath the mountains.
And something else: the Iapetus washed the poison that was Zell Dorsey from all the townfolk... but not Happy? And was Cordie actually dead this whole time? How did Rey Garcia end up back in Arizona?
I usually like stories that leave me with a "wtf", but I feel like I missed a whole season of a show that explained the most important points. All that said, the writing was really good and this was definitely an interesting premise. I would not hesitate to read Libby Edwardson again...maybe I just missed something here!
I am also left so confused by the end! It feels like I missed something; some important detail about the Iapetus or how Zell Dorsey functioned, because I still don't quite understand the connection between Phinnie's family and the creature from beneath the mountains.
And something else: the Iapetus washed the poison that was Zell Dorsey from all the townfolk... but not Happy? And was Cordie actually dead this whole time? How did Rey Garcia end up back in Arizona?
I usually like stories that leave me with a "wtf", but I feel like I missed a whole season of a show that explained the most important points. All that said, the writing was really good and this was definitely an interesting premise. I would not hesitate to read Libby Edwardson again...maybe I just missed something here!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2026
I was really anticipating this book before going in; as an English person, I’m only a little familiar with some of the folklore surrounding Appalachia and it is something that fascinates me. Unfortunately, whilst I found the storyline both haunting and intriguing, I wound up feeling a little underwhelmed by the end.
I feel like my biggest or main problem with this book was the characters: I felt quite disconnected from them, to the point that I didn’t quite care what happened to them, and I feel like a big contributor to this was the mixed pot of names and nicknames that had me losing track of who a few people were and their relations to the main narrators. I also struggled a little with the pacing throughout, which then lead to feeling quite confused by how the story ended because things progressed so suddenly I felt like I’d missed a chapter or two.
I will say this isn’t without its merits, of course. I did like the writing and, dare I say, the gorier elements. Even though this didn’t fully hit for me, this was worth the read and I will be keeping my eyes peeled (not literally) for future releases by this author.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy. This review and rating is entirely my own.
I feel like my biggest or main problem with this book was the characters: I felt quite disconnected from them, to the point that I didn’t quite care what happened to them, and I feel like a big contributor to this was the mixed pot of names and nicknames that had me losing track of who a few people were and their relations to the main narrators. I also struggled a little with the pacing throughout, which then lead to feeling quite confused by how the story ended because things progressed so suddenly I felt like I’d missed a chapter or two.
I will say this isn’t without its merits, of course. I did like the writing and, dare I say, the gorier elements. Even though this didn’t fully hit for me, this was worth the read and I will be keeping my eyes peeled (not literally) for future releases by this author.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy. This review and rating is entirely my own.
Review of advance copy
I had the absolute privilege of reading this gorgeous novel early. Featuring found family, beautiful friendships, and two rich settings, We Sent Them Down Singing will make you cry, laugh, then break your heart and stitch it back up again--leaving a scar in the best possible way. Your nightmares couldn't even come up with a villain like Zell Dorsey, but the friendship between the teenaged Phinnie and her best friend/father figure, Happy, is equally unique. I rarely, if ever, read horror, and I absolutely adored this novel!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this story for the unique eco-horror aspect and the strong found-family vibes. This book starts off with a strong and shocking hook and holds up the pace to keep you invested fully throughout. Solid character development and really endearing people who you just root for at every twist and turn, and villains who you loathe through every horror they inflict. Thank-you, Page Street Horror and Libby Edwardson, for this complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is an achingly beautiful book about a place that doesn’t get the love it so richly deserves. The characters of Jubilee, West Virginia had my whole heart. They feel like neighbors I grew up with, like friends I’d forgotten about. This book is dark and horrible and the tension is unbearable at times, but it left me feeling full of hope and pride for Appalachia. It also left me wishing it hadn’t ended so soon (but it also ended exactly where it should have). I wish I could read it for the first time again. One of my favorite books I’ve ever read. Stunning debut.
October 4, 2026
A small community in Appalachia finds itself overrun by strange phenomena; a teenage girl in that community, who lost her mother when she was two, thinks that she will now find out what happened over a decade ago, because she seems to have a special connection with whatever person/creature has brought this plague into the little town of Jubilee.
One of those narratives that kinda bit off more than it can chew, but the writing and character work was so strong I forgave it. The last fifty pages in particular are really well done.
One of those narratives that kinda bit off more than it can chew, but the writing and character work was so strong I forgave it. The last fifty pages in particular are really well done.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book completely consumed me. This is one of those rare books that lingers deep in your bones long after you've finished it. After nearly a year long reading slump, I devoured this. From the very first page to the last, I had full-body goosebumps.This is horror done right.It blurs the line between what’s human and monstrous in a way that feels hauntingly similar to real life. Monsters don’t always look like monsters. They live beside us. They are us… or are they?
September 6, 2026
There's an evil as old as time in the contemporary fictional mining town of Jubilee, West Virginia. It manifests as murdered women and missing children, but it's stranger and darker than that, too, involving eyeless monsters and sulfurous holes and a creature who would be god named Zell Dorsey. WE SENT THEM DOWN SINGING is part coming-of-age mystery, part police procedural, and all Appalachian horror. Welcome to the party, debut author Libby Edwardson!
Review of advance copy
I've never read anything quite like this. From the jump it sinks its teeth in and won't let go. It crawls under your skin. It breaks your heart. I mean it, this book aches. It's deeply sentimental and horrible and raw. It's feminine. It's disgusting. But most of all, this book is so so human. It's special. I'm so grateful to have gotten to read it!
July 26, 2026
came for the appalachian setting, stayed because i thought the story would be more based in the folklore of the region. the antagonist COULD be a metaphor for the exploitative treatment of WV, but i also think that the reality of that dynamic is more horrifying than anything analogous to it. idk might have to revisit.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Don’t read this one late at night! While the found family part of the story is wonderful, the rest is definitely creepy. I love a good horror book when done right! This is a story that is enriched with laugher and sadness, it will keep you turning pages late into the night!
August 14, 2026
If you like stranger things you'll like this book. Mystery and horror all wrapped into the Appalachian mountains. It's a great depiction of how human greed exploits the world of its resources and tears families apart and makes them stronger.
September 11, 2026
I'm so sad because this book was a 5 star until the last chapter. It felt like it lost all steam in order to wrap things up. Almost like the author didn't know where to take it. Honestly, without the final chapter, it's genuinely a 5 star book and probably didn't even need those last few pages.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5
August 10, 2026
This book was unlike anything I have read! Zell Dorsey left me disturbed in the best way and Jubilee drew me in, their humanity and care for one another so strong. The genre was new to me and I felt so many emotions - I laughed, cried, empathized with many, felt compassion, and anger - haunting and hopeful. Thank you, Libby for the experience!
Did Not Finish
August 10, 2026You know you are old when you have to DNF a book bc the font bothers your eyes. Note to self could retry on kindle another time.
August 16, 2026
Best book I’ve read in a long time.
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