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Loud as Bones
Not yet published
Expected 15 Jun 26Iris’s life unravels the night the monsters from the vampire lore she’s obsessed with descend upon her world—ancient, ravenous, and all too real. She loses the love of her life and the illusion that anything was ever safe. What follows is an existence drenched in blood, and death, and ruin.
Trapped in the decaying house she once imagined as a haven, Iris is kept alive for the pleasure and use of two vampires. She becomes their plaything, their prisoner. The rooms she once hoped to fill with warmth are now filled with bones. Skulls sit on shelves like trophies, but they are not silent. Each one carries a trace of memory, and if Iris listens closely, she can hear them.
They whisper that death will not bring the respite she craves, that the horror continues long after the body gives out.
Because in a house steeped in blood, the bones are loud.
Trapped in the decaying house she once imagined as a haven, Iris is kept alive for the pleasure and use of two vampires. She becomes their plaything, their prisoner. The rooms she once hoped to fill with warmth are now filled with bones. Skulls sit on shelves like trophies, but they are not silent. Each one carries a trace of memory, and if Iris listens closely, she can hear them.
They whisper that death will not bring the respite she craves, that the horror continues long after the body gives out.
Because in a house steeped in blood, the bones are loud.
158 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 15, 2026
About the author
D.G. Woods
4 books62 followersDG Woods has been haunted by nightmares and sleep paralysis since childhood. But instead of letting them scare her, she's turned them into stories. She writes what she calls "dark and just real enough for you to question — what if it's true?" tales, mixing her dreams, folklore, and real events in ways that make readers wonder about what's really out there in the dark.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
DECADENT. 🩸 ROTTING. 🏚 OBSESSIVE. 🦴 A vicious sapphic vampire novella about desire, captivity, hunger, memory, and the horror of being wanted as something to possess.
DG Woods takes vampire lore and makes it feel strange again. 😌🤌🏽 There are familiar pieces here—blood, obsession, immortality, seduction, the decaying gothic house, the dangerous pull of something monstrous—and Woods twists those elements into her own mythology with confidence. The romantic fantasy of the vampire becomes grotesque, intimate, violent, and claustrophobic. Desire becomes possession, immortality a trap, and the body a site of punishment, appetite, and control.
Woods commits to the ugliness underneath the beauty. The writing is lush and sensual, with something grief-soaked and violent pressing through the atmosphere at all times. The house feels alive with memory, cruelty, and bone; it holds the story in its walls and gives the novella a strong gothic pulse from the beginning.
One of the most beautiful and emotionally affecting pieces of the lore, for me, was what Woods does with the bones of lost lovers. I do not want to say too much and take away the experience of discovering it, but that detail pulled a surprising amount of emotion out of me. It felt original, intimate, and haunting—a small, strange invention that makes the world of the book feel entirely its own.
I also loved the way Woods explores the ache of wanting someone who does not want you back, and the devastation of desire that has nowhere safe to go. The relationship dynamics in this book are obsessive, painful, and full of imbalance, and Woods lets those imbalances unfold with more mystery than I expected. There are emotional truths buried inside the horror, and the book keeps revealing them in ways that made me realize how much I had been misreading or underestimating certain characters.
That sense of mystery was one of the biggest surprises for me. I had ideas about where the story was heading, and Woods kept pulling the floor out from under those expectations. Some of the most satisfying revelations were the ones I did not even realize the story was holding back, and the last 15% completely caught me off guard in the best way. The ending brings the plot together, but its real force comes from the character revelations and emotional recalibrations—the kind that change how several people in the story can be understood and make you rethink what you have been reading all along.
My minimal critique: the structure moves in and out of different forms, and some worked better for me than others. There was a stretch around the middle where I felt myself struggling a bit with the pacing and shape of the narrative, though I never felt bored or disconnected. The book shifts its rhythm often, lingering in mood and language before snapping back into plot, violence, or revelation. For such a short novella, I was surprised by how much movement there was in the pacing, and even when certain sections did not hit as strongly for me, the story still kept me engaged.
The final stretch adds complexity while keeping the horror fully intact; the violence remains visceral, the cruelty carries emotional weight, and the revelations give the whole novella more depth and strangeness. I loved how much care Woods put into the ending. It made the book feel more layered, more creative, and far more fun than I expected from something this brutal.
This is bloody, claustrophobic, gothic vampire horror with its own sense of myth. Woods took familiar vampire stories and made them feel strange, grotesque, vicious, and alive (or undead?) again. I was genuinely surprised by how inventive this became, especially by the end, and I’m very much looking forward to reading more of her work.
Please check trigger warnings on StoryGraph if you have triggers you would like to avoid. This is a very dark book.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC. All thoughts are my own. 💀🖤🦴
DG Woods takes vampire lore and makes it feel strange again. 😌🤌🏽 There are familiar pieces here—blood, obsession, immortality, seduction, the decaying gothic house, the dangerous pull of something monstrous—and Woods twists those elements into her own mythology with confidence. The romantic fantasy of the vampire becomes grotesque, intimate, violent, and claustrophobic. Desire becomes possession, immortality a trap, and the body a site of punishment, appetite, and control.
Woods commits to the ugliness underneath the beauty. The writing is lush and sensual, with something grief-soaked and violent pressing through the atmosphere at all times. The house feels alive with memory, cruelty, and bone; it holds the story in its walls and gives the novella a strong gothic pulse from the beginning.
One of the most beautiful and emotionally affecting pieces of the lore, for me, was what Woods does with the bones of lost lovers. I do not want to say too much and take away the experience of discovering it, but that detail pulled a surprising amount of emotion out of me. It felt original, intimate, and haunting—a small, strange invention that makes the world of the book feel entirely its own.
I also loved the way Woods explores the ache of wanting someone who does not want you back, and the devastation of desire that has nowhere safe to go. The relationship dynamics in this book are obsessive, painful, and full of imbalance, and Woods lets those imbalances unfold with more mystery than I expected. There are emotional truths buried inside the horror, and the book keeps revealing them in ways that made me realize how much I had been misreading or underestimating certain characters.
That sense of mystery was one of the biggest surprises for me. I had ideas about where the story was heading, and Woods kept pulling the floor out from under those expectations. Some of the most satisfying revelations were the ones I did not even realize the story was holding back, and the last 15% completely caught me off guard in the best way. The ending brings the plot together, but its real force comes from the character revelations and emotional recalibrations—the kind that change how several people in the story can be understood and make you rethink what you have been reading all along.
My minimal critique: the structure moves in and out of different forms, and some worked better for me than others. There was a stretch around the middle where I felt myself struggling a bit with the pacing and shape of the narrative, though I never felt bored or disconnected. The book shifts its rhythm often, lingering in mood and language before snapping back into plot, violence, or revelation. For such a short novella, I was surprised by how much movement there was in the pacing, and even when certain sections did not hit as strongly for me, the story still kept me engaged.
The final stretch adds complexity while keeping the horror fully intact; the violence remains visceral, the cruelty carries emotional weight, and the revelations give the whole novella more depth and strangeness. I loved how much care Woods put into the ending. It made the book feel more layered, more creative, and far more fun than I expected from something this brutal.
This is bloody, claustrophobic, gothic vampire horror with its own sense of myth. Woods took familiar vampire stories and made them feel strange, grotesque, vicious, and alive (or undead?) again. I was genuinely surprised by how inventive this became, especially by the end, and I’m very much looking forward to reading more of her work.
Please check trigger warnings on StoryGraph if you have triggers you would like to avoid. This is a very dark book.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC. All thoughts are my own. 💀🖤🦴
May 22, 2026
4.5⭐️
This was my third book by D.G. Woods, and at this point I can confidently say her books never disappoint me. I’m genuinely so grateful I got the ARC for this.
I was especially curious about this book because it felt a little different from her previous work. Different how? Definitely more sexual than the kind of books I usually gravitate toward BUT that didn’t stop me from devouring it at all.
It’s a very short novella, so I finished it quickly, but I honestly think this is exactly the kind of story that’s meant to be read in one sitting. It feels like a rush in the best possible way. Everything moves so fast, building into this beautiful, intoxicating chaos where one drastic thing happens after another. The pacing creates this dizzy, almost dreamlike atmosphere, and instead of taking away from the emotional weight of the story, it somehow makes the entire experience feel even more surreal and intense.
And the writing style was beautiful as always. D.G. Woods has this way of writing that feels effortless to read while still being lyrical and atmospheric.
I’ve always loved vampire stories, and anything even remotely inspired by Dracula immediately catches my attention. This book absolutely satisfied that craving for me.
Another successful book from D.G. Woods, and I’m already excited to see what she writes next.
This was my third book by D.G. Woods, and at this point I can confidently say her books never disappoint me. I’m genuinely so grateful I got the ARC for this.
I was especially curious about this book because it felt a little different from her previous work. Different how? Definitely more sexual than the kind of books I usually gravitate toward BUT that didn’t stop me from devouring it at all.
It’s a very short novella, so I finished it quickly, but I honestly think this is exactly the kind of story that’s meant to be read in one sitting. It feels like a rush in the best possible way. Everything moves so fast, building into this beautiful, intoxicating chaos where one drastic thing happens after another. The pacing creates this dizzy, almost dreamlike atmosphere, and instead of taking away from the emotional weight of the story, it somehow makes the entire experience feel even more surreal and intense.
And the writing style was beautiful as always. D.G. Woods has this way of writing that feels effortless to read while still being lyrical and atmospheric.
I’ve always loved vampire stories, and anything even remotely inspired by Dracula immediately catches my attention. This book absolutely satisfied that craving for me.
Another successful book from D.G. Woods, and I’m already excited to see what she writes next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
[I received an ARC copy in return for an honest review]
D.G. Woods knows what she is doing. Her writing is skilfull, visceral, haunting; everything you want from a gothic horror story. I read this novella in a handful of hours, easily swept along in the bloody mess that is desire and grief and realising your life wasn’t what you thought it would be but still wanting to hold onto its scraps by the skin of your teeth.
Her vampires were a wonderful mix of traditional, violent and grotesque, and uniquely sensual. I never knew what they were going to do next, and Iris was an achingly flawed MC, and I admired the rawness of her strength, that even as she spiralled further down into the nightmare she found herself in she remained stubborn, refusing to lose herself and her mind to the horrors that consumed her.
(The bones were one of my favourite parts of the novella, such a tender but violating invention.)
By the end I wasn’t quite sure how to rate this one, because on all technical levels it was brilliant, and I very much enjoyed reading it, but on a personal level it also didn’t quite hit for me the way I was hoping it would? So, officially I am giving this 4.5 stars, because it genuinely is that good, though perhaps on my personal enjoyment scale (for whatever that’s worth) it would be a 3.5/75?
If you’re a fan of the dark and macabre, gothic tales full of animalistic desire and obsession that seeps down to your bones, then you’ll love this! (Though, perhaps check the trigger warnings first)
D.G. Woods knows what she is doing. Her writing is skilfull, visceral, haunting; everything you want from a gothic horror story. I read this novella in a handful of hours, easily swept along in the bloody mess that is desire and grief and realising your life wasn’t what you thought it would be but still wanting to hold onto its scraps by the skin of your teeth.
Her vampires were a wonderful mix of traditional, violent and grotesque, and uniquely sensual. I never knew what they were going to do next, and Iris was an achingly flawed MC, and I admired the rawness of her strength, that even as she spiralled further down into the nightmare she found herself in she remained stubborn, refusing to lose herself and her mind to the horrors that consumed her.
(The bones were one of my favourite parts of the novella, such a tender but violating invention.)
By the end I wasn’t quite sure how to rate this one, because on all technical levels it was brilliant, and I very much enjoyed reading it, but on a personal level it also didn’t quite hit for me the way I was hoping it would? So, officially I am giving this 4.5 stars, because it genuinely is that good, though perhaps on my personal enjoyment scale (for whatever that’s worth) it would be a 3.5/75?
If you’re a fan of the dark and macabre, gothic tales full of animalistic desire and obsession that seeps down to your bones, then you’ll love this! (Though, perhaps check the trigger warnings first)
May 29, 2026
Wow, this was a wild time! Loud as Bones grabs you by the throat and pulls you straight in. It’s gross and sexy. The vampires are deliciously toxic. I loved the way the vampire lore is used to explore human desire, loneliness, obsession.
Review of advance copy received from Author
My second 5 star read of the year!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gothic, erotic, and poetic as FUCK!!!!
Do you like gothic style homes in the middle of nowhere? Do you like sick and twisted horror? Do you like sapphic vampire smut drenched in blood and decay?
Do you want to see a girl spiral out of her mind from grave loss, disgusting torture, and ultimately find herself anew rising from the blood of the ones who have made her this way?
Have you ever wished you could keep your lovers bones to look upon and talk to long after they are physically gone?
If this sounds like you, ‘Loud as Bones’ IS PERFECT FOR YOU!!!
In all seriousness, this is a lovely book. I am a long time fan of horror, especially erotic horror, and I love when stories have that sick, perverted, disgusting gore but balance it with something deeper, erotic and soft; like the bruised and rotted flesh of a juicy peach. I loved the gothic tone and poetic prose, even when describing something decrepid.
Not only did the writing quality impress me, the characters were well fleshed out for a smaller book! I feel like through the main character, we get to know and observe much about the other characters: Sylvie, Ophelia, and Gunnar.
I loved the most that in the end, it was Agatha (Iris) who was left. She survived and we watched her through it. We saw her insecure, holding too tight to Sylvie; we watch her succumb to madness between Ophelia and Gunnar, and we watched her become something new, something darker through their torture. In the end she grows herself new through the death of both her captors.
As a person who routinely holds onto things— and people— so tight, never knowing when it’s best to let go, I felt very seen in Iris/Agatha. How she behaves with her partner Sylvie in life, after losing her, and all the way to the end of the book. I too would keep a lovers bones, to talk to them well beyond their life. So if you are anything like me, PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
Tags: horror, erotica, gothic, psychological, poetic, vampires, sapphic
Gothic, erotic, and poetic as FUCK!!!!
Do you like gothic style homes in the middle of nowhere? Do you like sick and twisted horror? Do you like sapphic vampire smut drenched in blood and decay?
Do you want to see a girl spiral out of her mind from grave loss, disgusting torture, and ultimately find herself anew rising from the blood of the ones who have made her this way?
Have you ever wished you could keep your lovers bones to look upon and talk to long after they are physically gone?
If this sounds like you, ‘Loud as Bones’ IS PERFECT FOR YOU!!!
In all seriousness, this is a lovely book. I am a long time fan of horror, especially erotic horror, and I love when stories have that sick, perverted, disgusting gore but balance it with something deeper, erotic and soft; like the bruised and rotted flesh of a juicy peach. I loved the gothic tone and poetic prose, even when describing something decrepid.
Not only did the writing quality impress me, the characters were well fleshed out for a smaller book! I feel like through the main character, we get to know and observe much about the other characters: Sylvie, Ophelia, and Gunnar.
I loved the most that in the end, it was Agatha (Iris) who was left. She survived and we watched her through it. We saw her insecure, holding too tight to Sylvie; we watch her succumb to madness between Ophelia and Gunnar, and we watched her become something new, something darker through their torture. In the end she grows herself new through the death of both her captors.
As a person who routinely holds onto things— and people— so tight, never knowing when it’s best to let go, I felt very seen in Iris/Agatha. How she behaves with her partner Sylvie in life, after losing her, and all the way to the end of the book. I too would keep a lovers bones, to talk to them well beyond their life. So if you are anything like me, PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
Tags: horror, erotica, gothic, psychological, poetic, vampires, sapphic
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I just want to start by saying I am so happy to have received this as an ARC. D.G. Woods has done it again!
A fresh, eerily beautiful vampire telling. It is difficult to find new ways to tell something as classic as a vampire story and yet here one is.
The sense of dread and confusion as Iris slowly loses herself during her captivity, becoming another ghost to haunt Whitmore is stunning. Her strong sense of self-preservation even at the cost of everything she knew before is compelling and adds so much to her character development. You can understand to feeling of loneliness, of wanting to possess, to be free. There are layers here to every element, an undercutting of pain and sorrow where it shows a dominating figure. A quiet strength and resilience where we see a victim.
The struggle of wanting someone who no longer wants you, mistaking obsession as unrequited love and the fear of being alone is palpable throughout the narrative. The jealousy and loss of self was subtle and married nicely. The Manor itself was both the setting of a claustrophobic cage of decay and almost a ghost itself. Haunting her with whispers from the dead.
The idea of the reliquaries of past lovers was beautiful and pulled at heart strings I wasn't expecting it to. It added a gentleness and a quietness to rest of the tale that was otherwise dark and violent.
D.G. Woods has a great sense of writing modern gothic tales. They're exquisitely moody and a little bit heart breaking and I truly enjoy her writing.
A fresh, eerily beautiful vampire telling. It is difficult to find new ways to tell something as classic as a vampire story and yet here one is.
The sense of dread and confusion as Iris slowly loses herself during her captivity, becoming another ghost to haunt Whitmore is stunning. Her strong sense of self-preservation even at the cost of everything she knew before is compelling and adds so much to her character development. You can understand to feeling of loneliness, of wanting to possess, to be free. There are layers here to every element, an undercutting of pain and sorrow where it shows a dominating figure. A quiet strength and resilience where we see a victim.
The struggle of wanting someone who no longer wants you, mistaking obsession as unrequited love and the fear of being alone is palpable throughout the narrative. The jealousy and loss of self was subtle and married nicely. The Manor itself was both the setting of a claustrophobic cage of decay and almost a ghost itself. Haunting her with whispers from the dead.
The idea of the reliquaries of past lovers was beautiful and pulled at heart strings I wasn't expecting it to. It added a gentleness and a quietness to rest of the tale that was otherwise dark and violent.
D.G. Woods has a great sense of writing modern gothic tales. They're exquisitely moody and a little bit heart breaking and I truly enjoy her writing.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is my second book from this author, and I am so incredibly grateful to be chosen for an ARC copy to review!
Loud As Bones completely blew me away. Woods fully commits to heavy, genuinely creepy horror. It feels authentically gothic in a way the genre requires, where the decaying house is practically its own character, but it also takes place in the modern day. That contrast makes it all the more haunting, like it's happening right next to us and could happen to any of us.
The horrors are truly horrific, and I loved that Iris is a flawed main character who isn't just focused on surviving, but also on revenge. There is a deeply poetic beauty to the brutality of her situation. I found myself highlighting so many incredible lines, like “Some things are made beautiful to be destroyed... Their beauty lives in how quickly they pass” and “The craving for death was one thing; the anticipation was another. The wait was worse.” - I have more in my kindle.
This is an easy 5 stars because it doesn't tone anything down. It is a decadent, raw, and beautifully devastating sapphic horror novella that isn't afraid to get bloody and properly terrifying. In this world, “to be useless was to be forgotten, and to be forgotten was to be buried.”
If you want a fast-paced, high-stakes horror read that handles trauma with absolute grit while still being stunningly written, you need to pick this up immediately.
And the cover?? Absolutely gorgeous.
Loud As Bones completely blew me away. Woods fully commits to heavy, genuinely creepy horror. It feels authentically gothic in a way the genre requires, where the decaying house is practically its own character, but it also takes place in the modern day. That contrast makes it all the more haunting, like it's happening right next to us and could happen to any of us.
The horrors are truly horrific, and I loved that Iris is a flawed main character who isn't just focused on surviving, but also on revenge. There is a deeply poetic beauty to the brutality of her situation. I found myself highlighting so many incredible lines, like “Some things are made beautiful to be destroyed... Their beauty lives in how quickly they pass” and “The craving for death was one thing; the anticipation was another. The wait was worse.” - I have more in my kindle.
This is an easy 5 stars because it doesn't tone anything down. It is a decadent, raw, and beautifully devastating sapphic horror novella that isn't afraid to get bloody and properly terrifying. In this world, “to be useless was to be forgotten, and to be forgotten was to be buried.”
If you want a fast-paced, high-stakes horror read that handles trauma with absolute grit while still being stunningly written, you need to pick this up immediately.
And the cover?? Absolutely gorgeous.
Review of advance copy received from Author
It’s been a while since I’ve had such a glorious vampire read that wasn’t a re-read.
The book opens with a couple living in a remote estate who are attacked by vampires. One is killed, while the other is kept prisoner as a source of food. But as the story unfolds, the vampires begin to develop a relationship with her, each finding something in her they crave or want to see. Beyond this complicated, blood-stained dynamic, the vampires carry a secret that their victim, Iris, uncovers completely by accident.
There are no "good" or "bad" characters in this book. It is simply dark, visceral, and painfully human. You're not supposed to side with anyone, you're merely an observer.
The prose is beautiful, and the gothic setting completely comes alive as you read. It features an oppressive atmosphere akin to a haunted house story. While there are some gruesome elements, as a horror lover, they worked perfectly for me and only heightened the visceral terror.
My only wish was that it was a bit longer so we could get more insights into Agatha's life after the events. I am also not a big fan of explicit sexual content, however in this book, it seemed appropriately used and for the right purpose.
Thank you D.G. Woods for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
The book opens with a couple living in a remote estate who are attacked by vampires. One is killed, while the other is kept prisoner as a source of food. But as the story unfolds, the vampires begin to develop a relationship with her, each finding something in her they crave or want to see. Beyond this complicated, blood-stained dynamic, the vampires carry a secret that their victim, Iris, uncovers completely by accident.
There are no "good" or "bad" characters in this book. It is simply dark, visceral, and painfully human. You're not supposed to side with anyone, you're merely an observer.
The prose is beautiful, and the gothic setting completely comes alive as you read. It features an oppressive atmosphere akin to a haunted house story. While there are some gruesome elements, as a horror lover, they worked perfectly for me and only heightened the visceral terror.
My only wish was that it was a bit longer so we could get more insights into Agatha's life after the events. I am also not a big fan of explicit sexual content, however in this book, it seemed appropriately used and for the right purpose.
Thank you D.G. Woods for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
From the wonderfully wicked mind of DG Woods comes Loud As Bones, a gothic fever dream that bleeds poetry from every page. This is not just a book; it is a beautifully horrific experience that commands your attention from the very first line. The atmosphere is so thick and menacing that it instantly made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, sending a perfect, chilling thrill straight down my spine.
I completely devoured this story, driven by a desperate, insatiable need to see what would happen next. Woods’ writing does not just entertain....it consumes. It reaches out, wraps itself around you, and drags you deep into the shadows, molding you into a piece of the architecture until your actual surroundings completely vanish. It is a stunning, terrifying testament to the author’s supreme skill.
I have always been a loyal follower of DG Woods' work, but Loud As Bones feels like a permanent mark. This book proves that her mind is a gloriously dark place to get lost in; and as the final page turns, it leaves you with the intoxicating realization that maybe she isn't the only one who is wonderfully wicked.
I completely devoured this story, driven by a desperate, insatiable need to see what would happen next. Woods’ writing does not just entertain....it consumes. It reaches out, wraps itself around you, and drags you deep into the shadows, molding you into a piece of the architecture until your actual surroundings completely vanish. It is a stunning, terrifying testament to the author’s supreme skill.
I have always been a loyal follower of DG Woods' work, but Loud As Bones feels like a permanent mark. This book proves that her mind is a gloriously dark place to get lost in; and as the final page turns, it leaves you with the intoxicating realization that maybe she isn't the only one who is wonderfully wicked.
Review of advance copy received from Author
LOUD AS BONES 🦴🩸
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
DG Woods has done it AGAIN! Her writing style is so atmospheric and lush that it always manages to sweep me away!! 😱💖🫶
Loud as Bones is one of the darkest books I have ever read, and yet I still found myself completely engrossed in this novella, constantly questioning what would happen next. DG has such a unique way of unfolding a story that leaves you hungry for more, and I’m so glad I had the chance to read this one early!!
Tropes:
🩸 sapphic vampires
🕸️ gothic atmosphere
👀 female rage
💖 polyamory
Another thing I loved about this novella, and DG’s writing in general, is that I truly never knew what to expect!! Every time I thought I had figured out where the story was headed, I was quite literally completely surprised in the best way. Devastating, grief-stricken, and chilling all at the same time, this novella made me FEEL such a wide range of emotions!!
One of my favorite quotes:
“I was alone with my grief. Alone with the finality of death—all while the monster who’d brought it upon us stood there, admiring the late blooms.”
Please make sure to check your triggers 💖🫶✨
Thank you so much to DG for allowing me to read this book early!!! 💖🫶✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
DG Woods has done it AGAIN! Her writing style is so atmospheric and lush that it always manages to sweep me away!! 😱💖🫶
Loud as Bones is one of the darkest books I have ever read, and yet I still found myself completely engrossed in this novella, constantly questioning what would happen next. DG has such a unique way of unfolding a story that leaves you hungry for more, and I’m so glad I had the chance to read this one early!!
Tropes:
🩸 sapphic vampires
🕸️ gothic atmosphere
👀 female rage
💖 polyamory
Another thing I loved about this novella, and DG’s writing in general, is that I truly never knew what to expect!! Every time I thought I had figured out where the story was headed, I was quite literally completely surprised in the best way. Devastating, grief-stricken, and chilling all at the same time, this novella made me FEEL such a wide range of emotions!!
One of my favorite quotes:
“I was alone with my grief. Alone with the finality of death—all while the monster who’d brought it upon us stood there, admiring the late blooms.”
Please make sure to check your triggers 💖🫶✨
Thank you so much to DG for allowing me to read this book early!!! 💖🫶✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
A deceptively deep delve into the experience of what it would be like to lose your entire present, past, and future as you fall prey to a ravenous monster - and rebuild your body and mind from the brink of certain death in order to survive. What parts of yourself would be left behind, and who would you become in the process?
This novella looks at a pivotal snapshot of Iris's meager life; a rotting house in the middle of nowhere, a dead-end dream, and a relationship on thin ice. When the icy emotional dread reaches a crescendo, her world is suddenly ripped to literal shreds due to a vampire attack in the middle of the night. Her partner is dead. She is chained to a radiator and bled dry. But her body refuses to die. Clinging to the memory of her true love, she submits to the intruders as a thrall, determined to someday be strong enough to enact revenge. The bones of numerous victims she helps bury, and those of the vampire's past, whisper and wail through the rotting floorboards - tall tales and sharp secrets from the dead may be her only way out.
A captivating, bloody tale that echoes of karmic dues. Actions have consequences. Some, take the shape of monsters.
This novella looks at a pivotal snapshot of Iris's meager life; a rotting house in the middle of nowhere, a dead-end dream, and a relationship on thin ice. When the icy emotional dread reaches a crescendo, her world is suddenly ripped to literal shreds due to a vampire attack in the middle of the night. Her partner is dead. She is chained to a radiator and bled dry. But her body refuses to die. Clinging to the memory of her true love, she submits to the intruders as a thrall, determined to someday be strong enough to enact revenge. The bones of numerous victims she helps bury, and those of the vampire's past, whisper and wail through the rotting floorboards - tall tales and sharp secrets from the dead may be her only way out.
A captivating, bloody tale that echoes of karmic dues. Actions have consequences. Some, take the shape of monsters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
Hi, I'm D.G. Woods, the author of Loud as Bones and some other books.
First of all, I would like to thank you for picking up this book. Its story is strange: over a decade ago, I had a strange dream. In that dream, there were vampires, and bones, and all the other things you'll read about in this book. Finally, I wrote it all down, and there you have it.
Please keep in mind that there are trigger warnings, and take them seriously. Your emotional well-being and mental health matter most.
Please note that as an author, I do not interact with reviews, as I believe they are purely a readers' space. However, I am incredibly grateful for every reader who takes the time to share their thoughts!
If you'd like more information on my books or upcoming events, please check out my website.
https://dg-woods.com/
First of all, I would like to thank you for picking up this book. Its story is strange: over a decade ago, I had a strange dream. In that dream, there were vampires, and bones, and all the other things you'll read about in this book. Finally, I wrote it all down, and there you have it.
Please keep in mind that there are trigger warnings, and take them seriously. Your emotional well-being and mental health matter most.
Please note that as an author, I do not interact with reviews, as I believe they are purely a readers' space. However, I am incredibly grateful for every reader who takes the time to share their thoughts!
If you'd like more information on my books or upcoming events, please check out my website.
https://dg-woods.com/
Review of advance copy received from Author
Careful, readers. This book will absolutely crawl under your skin and stay there. I went into Loud as Bones expecting a standard gothic vampire story, but what I got was a beautifully gritty, unhinged, and completely addictive masterpiece.
The atmosphere is so thick and moody that you can practically feel the decay of the setting. The main character is everything I want in dark fiction. She is raw, deeply flawed, and fighting through layers of grief and trauma, which makes her resilience feel incredibly real. And then there is the vampire dynamic. The tension is forged in absolute fire. It is a slow, breathless spiral where the lines of control get completely blurred, and you cannot help but get sucked into the obsession right along with them.
The writing is lush and cinematic. It balances the grotesque horror elements with moments of fragile, poetic beauty. It does not pull its punches or care about your comfort, which is exactly why it works so well. It is a sharp, short, and perfectly paced story that I completely devoured.
The scene where they were chasing that man through the house? I literally forgot how to breathe.
Fans of atmospheric horror and dark twisted romance are going to be absolutely obsessed with this novella.
The atmosphere is so thick and moody that you can practically feel the decay of the setting. The main character is everything I want in dark fiction. She is raw, deeply flawed, and fighting through layers of grief and trauma, which makes her resilience feel incredibly real. And then there is the vampire dynamic. The tension is forged in absolute fire. It is a slow, breathless spiral where the lines of control get completely blurred, and you cannot help but get sucked into the obsession right along with them.
The writing is lush and cinematic. It balances the grotesque horror elements with moments of fragile, poetic beauty. It does not pull its punches or care about your comfort, which is exactly why it works so well. It is a sharp, short, and perfectly paced story that I completely devoured.
The scene where they were chasing that man through the house? I literally forgot how to breathe.
Fans of atmospheric horror and dark twisted romance are going to be absolutely obsessed with this novella.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Pure gothic perfection!
Wow, what a spectacular novella. Loud As Bones delivers incredible lore, a visceral tone, and amazing pacing.
The author crafts a moody, gritty, and stunningly dark world with a plot that moves at breakneck speed. Something is always happening and you don't have a moment to relax. The characters are complex and sharp, and flashed out well despite the shorter text format.
The character dynamics are phenomenal, the chemistry is electric, and the dark, visceral tension and horrors are hard to look away from. You just keep turning the pages! The ending left me absolutely shook! If you are looking for an intense, gorgeously written, and addictive vampire story that is unlike any other vampire story to pull you right out of a reading slump, GO READ THIS.
Wow, what a spectacular novella. Loud As Bones delivers incredible lore, a visceral tone, and amazing pacing.
The author crafts a moody, gritty, and stunningly dark world with a plot that moves at breakneck speed. Something is always happening and you don't have a moment to relax. The characters are complex and sharp, and flashed out well despite the shorter text format.
The character dynamics are phenomenal, the chemistry is electric, and the dark, visceral tension and horrors are hard to look away from. You just keep turning the pages! The ending left me absolutely shook! If you are looking for an intense, gorgeously written, and addictive vampire story that is unlike any other vampire story to pull you right out of a reading slump, GO READ THIS.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely loved this book. It has such satisfying and yet poetic ending. Like the gore, the horror, the descent and psychological aspects it’s absolutely beautiful! 😍 by far one of my favourite reads.
I can’t suggest this book enough.
It made me see exactly what the author was trying to convey with this book. Even beauty has its thorns. Karma is a bitch. The ending of the maker. From a to z. I absolutely loved this book!
All the trigger warnings mentioned in the book made me think it would be something disastrous, but I guess I’m used to it the way I write my books 🤣🤣🤣.
Beauty in horror? Sign me up!
I can’t suggest this book enough.
It made me see exactly what the author was trying to convey with this book. Even beauty has its thorns. Karma is a bitch. The ending of the maker. From a to z. I absolutely loved this book!
All the trigger warnings mentioned in the book made me think it would be something disastrous, but I guess I’m used to it the way I write my books 🤣🤣🤣.
Beauty in horror? Sign me up!
May 24, 2026
Review of advanced reader copy 🖤
This novella is unmistakably haunted from the first to last word. DG Woods has an incredible voice filled with beautiful poetry and equally visceral horror. The slow unveiling of an imperfect main character led me down the back alleys of her mind and truly pulled me into the way the character views the world—her desires, her shortcomings, her regrets, her everything. Not only is she put into a harrowing situation and thrown into grief, she has to stay aware enough to outsmart the immortal monsters holding her captive. It is life and death in its rawest form. The end threw me in the best way possible and I couldn’t have asked for better poetic justice.
This novella is unmistakably haunted from the first to last word. DG Woods has an incredible voice filled with beautiful poetry and equally visceral horror. The slow unveiling of an imperfect main character led me down the back alleys of her mind and truly pulled me into the way the character views the world—her desires, her shortcomings, her regrets, her everything. Not only is she put into a harrowing situation and thrown into grief, she has to stay aware enough to outsmart the immortal monsters holding her captive. It is life and death in its rawest form. The end threw me in the best way possible and I couldn’t have asked for better poetic justice.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Okay. Alright...
I am not either.
First, I was graced as an ARC reader and all the feelings could be spoilers within themselves, so I will keep this brief.
I had hunches. And then? BAM they happened, but never in the way I was anticipating NOR who or how many "people" I was anticipating them happening to.
My flabbers were ghasted.
I was nauseous in the beginning (please pay attention to the trigger warnings) and by the end? I was literally eating everything these pages could afford.
If you love horror, erotic-horror, phallic vampirism, suspense, and a twist? Then reader... Please keep reading, as I have no other words to offer.
I am not either.
First, I was graced as an ARC reader and all the feelings could be spoilers within themselves, so I will keep this brief.
I had hunches. And then? BAM they happened, but never in the way I was anticipating NOR who or how many "people" I was anticipating them happening to.
My flabbers were ghasted.
I was nauseous in the beginning (please pay attention to the trigger warnings) and by the end? I was literally eating everything these pages could afford.
If you love horror, erotic-horror, phallic vampirism, suspense, and a twist? Then reader... Please keep reading, as I have no other words to offer.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Very dark. Read the warning first!
I loved the take on vampires in this book. They were somehow even scarier than the vampires we know in film and other books. The vampires in this novella were more human than not, but only few elements made them monsters.
The sexual themes and scenes reminded me heavily of the recent Nosferatu film. This is one of those books where I would say, "this is like an A24 film!"
Very haunting to read; beautiful language. Horrific scenes that stay with you. Well written!
I loved the take on vampires in this book. They were somehow even scarier than the vampires we know in film and other books. The vampires in this novella were more human than not, but only few elements made them monsters.
The sexual themes and scenes reminded me heavily of the recent Nosferatu film. This is one of those books where I would say, "this is like an A24 film!"
Very haunting to read; beautiful language. Horrific scenes that stay with you. Well written!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Okay. I am SO glad I got this ARC holy shit. Unhinged as hell. Not the kind of book I usually read, but I loved it?? The writing was fantastic and nauseating, exactly what it needs to be. It is a whirlwind and fantastic to binge in one sitting. Impossible to look away from purely because you need to see what unhinged shit comes next 😆. Definitely read trigger warnings because it’s not for everyone, but it is so good if you can handle it
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is not what I normally read and I am still processing, but I was swept away by this book. It made me sit and stare at the wall after.
The book itself is character driven, yet it’s rich with events, and it feels like you start reading, by chapter 2, you hold your breath and you don’t exhale until the end.
And that ending??? I need therapy now. But how good was that? Definitely not for the faint of heart. Read trigger warnings first.
The book itself is character driven, yet it’s rich with events, and it feels like you start reading, by chapter 2, you hold your breath and you don’t exhale until the end.
And that ending??? I need therapy now. But how good was that? Definitely not for the faint of heart. Read trigger warnings first.
May 25, 2026
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC for this but will be buying it the first chance I get. Heed the trigger warnings, dear readers!! I knew by the end of the first quarter this is one of the most unhinged stories I’ve read and by the end my heart was broken. The horror of love, loss, and rot entwined together in a neverending fugue of what the actual f**k. I would read a series in this universe.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is now my 2nd arc from D.G. Woods and boy did this one rock me. A novella that I wish was SO much longer! Even with the page "shortage," this one packed a wallop!
Characters' development and plot were sensational... had me guessing what would happen next and how it would turn out... I was floored by the ending 😳
I will say if you aren't a horror fan, this one isn't for you. Best left to the depraved 😄 waiting impatiently for more!
Characters' development and plot were sensational... had me guessing what would happen next and how it would turn out... I was floored by the ending 😳
I will say if you aren't a horror fan, this one isn't for you. Best left to the depraved 😄 waiting impatiently for more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is the 3rd book of D.G.Woods that I have read and she really doesn't disappoint.
It was very different and shocking but I read it all in one go, it's disturbing but you can't stop reading it and need to know what happens next.
It makes you feel uneasy but it's engrossing. I've always loved vampire books and this was quite different but disgustingly perfect.
It was very different and shocking but I read it all in one go, it's disturbing but you can't stop reading it and need to know what happens next.
It makes you feel uneasy but it's engrossing. I've always loved vampire books and this was quite different but disgustingly perfect.
Read
May 25, 2026She's done it again, you guys. She's done it again. D.G. is an auto-buy author for me.
Loud as Bones is a disturbing gothic horror that delivers everything that promises. Nightmares included. So beware.
Vampires are horrible but fascinating creatures.
Dark. Haunting. Magnetic. Unsettling. Magnific.
Proper review to come.
Loud as Bones is a disturbing gothic horror that delivers everything that promises. Nightmares included. So beware.
Vampires are horrible but fascinating creatures.
Dark. Haunting. Magnetic. Unsettling. Magnific.
Proper review to come.
Review of advance copy received from Author
📚ARC REVIEW 📚
I went into this book completely blind solely knowing there was FEMALE RAGE, sold me. This sapphic erotic horror novella was absolutely amazing. I enjoyed the psychological aspect and the withering estate for the setting. This book comes with a ton of triggers but once you get past those, you are in for a treat. I loved it!
I went into this book completely blind solely knowing there was FEMALE RAGE, sold me. This sapphic erotic horror novella was absolutely amazing. I enjoyed the psychological aspect and the withering estate for the setting. This book comes with a ton of triggers but once you get past those, you are in for a treat. I loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
FEEL-BAD HORROR. darkest thing I've read in years & I could not look away, I read this in one day. ❤ a front row seat to a captive's developing complex PTSD. I've been begging for years for vampires to be frightening & disgusting again. this author gets it. ;) thank you D!
May 24, 2026
Thank you for the ARC!
Wow. This sucked me in (pun intended). It felt like I was living in this with them and I was totally immersed in it. It totally felt like reading a nightmare and I enjoyed every second of it. The ending left me wanting more in the best way!
Wow. This sucked me in (pun intended). It felt like I was living in this with them and I was totally immersed in it. It totally felt like reading a nightmare and I enjoyed every second of it. The ending left me wanting more in the best way!
May 25, 2026
“And before long, I settled into the rot.”
A huge thank you to the author for this ARC; a new favorite of mine. The characters were monstrous, the descriptions beautiful, and the bones loud. A must read for any lover of gore, horror, and beings that bite.
A huge thank you to the author for this ARC; a new favorite of mine. The characters were monstrous, the descriptions beautiful, and the bones loud. A must read for any lover of gore, horror, and beings that bite.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a solid short read of horror, gore and vampires!
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