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Loud as Bones
Iris’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
Published June 15, 2026
About the author
D.G. Woods
4 books65 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 - 30 of 81 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 loved 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 loved 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. 💀🖤🦴
June 25, 2026
4.5/5 stars rounded up.
This is now my second book that I've read by D.G. Woods and is so far my favorite. As many of you likely know, I'm mainly a horror reader and I love anything sapphic as well as anything to do with vampires. This had all 3 of my boxes checked.
This book read very differently than Into the Dark, We Go, which was a good thing! This had a more gothic and poetic prose than her first book which really solidified the atmosphere. The writing was lush and a pleasure to read. Loud as Bones maintains a pretty fast pace throughout the whole book, which is my preferred novella experience.
I have to say, I was starting to get worried with how the book would end once I reached about 80%. I thought that I breathed a huge sigh of relief when the ending turned out way better than what I was expecting. And I loved the adaptability of Iris. I thought it was a strong trait in her character.
I enjoyed the mixture of horror and domestic drama. I also was wondering how the title would tie into the plot and I loved the reveal. It turned into an interesting concept.
For those of you that don't particularly like horror or dark themes, you'll probably struggle with this. As I said, the majority of what I read is horror, so this was a normal day in my life. If you're sensitive to any content warnings, I have compiled a bit of a list below that you can refer to. It's possible that I've missed some, but it's a starting point.
CW: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Infidelity
This is now my second book that I've read by D.G. Woods and is so far my favorite. As many of you likely know, I'm mainly a horror reader and I love anything sapphic as well as anything to do with vampires. This had all 3 of my boxes checked.
This book read very differently than Into the Dark, We Go, which was a good thing! This had a more gothic and poetic prose than her first book which really solidified the atmosphere. The writing was lush and a pleasure to read. Loud as Bones maintains a pretty fast pace throughout the whole book, which is my preferred novella experience.
I have to say, I was starting to get worried with how the book would end once I reached about 80%. I thought that I breathed a huge sigh of relief when the ending turned out way better than what I was expecting. And I loved the adaptability of Iris. I thought it was a strong trait in her character.
I enjoyed the mixture of horror and domestic drama. I also was wondering how the title would tie into the plot and I loved the reveal. It turned into an interesting concept.
For those of you that don't particularly like horror or dark themes, you'll probably struggle with this. As I said, the majority of what I read is horror, so this was a normal day in my life. If you're sensitive to any content warnings, I have compiled a bit of a list below that you can refer to. It's possible that I've missed some, but it's a starting point.
CW: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Infidelity
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)
June 23, 2026
I read this in one sitting. The prose was beautiful and it’s probably the most disgusting thing I’ve ever read, loved it.
June 7, 2026
An actual slasher film playing in my head while plowing through this novella in one sitting. I had no idea where Loud As Bones was going to take me, but it was full send the moment Iris and her partner bought a fixer-upper Victorian on a secluded plot of land. The strain of sinking money into this quietly crumbling home presses on the couple and their foundation starts to crack right along with it.
One evening Iris wakes to her partner screaming, only to see her running away… vanishing into the dark. This is where the heart-stopping adrenaline starts pumping through the reader as Iris learns there’s harmful intruders inside her home and we feel her fear with her as she’s hiding, listening to the footsteps around her home. Hoping on her life they won’t stop in front of her…
What happens for the rest of the story is not for the faint of heart. It’s viciously bloody, darkly twisted, and completely toxic as we see two blood-thirsty psychopaths take over Iris’s life. If you’re up for a gory horror with sweet revenge, Loud As Bones is a must read!
~Thank you to DG Woods for the gifted eARC. All thoughts/opinions are my own.~
One evening Iris wakes to her partner screaming, only to see her running away… vanishing into the dark. This is where the heart-stopping adrenaline starts pumping through the reader as Iris learns there’s harmful intruders inside her home and we feel her fear with her as she’s hiding, listening to the footsteps around her home. Hoping on her life they won’t stop in front of her…
What happens for the rest of the story is not for the faint of heart. It’s viciously bloody, darkly twisted, and completely toxic as we see two blood-thirsty psychopaths take over Iris’s life. If you’re up for a gory horror with sweet revenge, Loud As Bones is a must read!
~Thank you to DG Woods for the gifted eARC. All thoughts/opinions are my own.~
Read
June 7, 2026This is not your average vampire read, and it definitely doesn’t pretend to be. LOUD AS BONES dives headfirst into the dark and gritty side, so check the trigger warnings beforehand, because this one pulls absolutely no punches.
That being said, after reading a few lighter, mellower stories, this was exactly the kind of chaos my drama-loving heart was craving. It’s heavy, intense, and at times downright uncomfortable, but that’s also what makes it so compelling. DG Woods doesn’t shy away from the darkness, and instead weaves a story that is raw and unapologetically bold.
The tension running through the entire novella keeps you hooked, even when things get brutal. I’m so invested in Iris. Her story, her struggle, her survival… That ending left me wanting more, I’m seriously crossing my fingers for a sequel.
This book admittedly won’t be for everyone, which is perfectly okay. But if you’re into dark vampire erotica that pushes boundaries and leans into the shadows, this is absolutely worth the read.
That being said, after reading a few lighter, mellower stories, this was exactly the kind of chaos my drama-loving heart was craving. It’s heavy, intense, and at times downright uncomfortable, but that’s also what makes it so compelling. DG Woods doesn’t shy away from the darkness, and instead weaves a story that is raw and unapologetically bold.
The tension running through the entire novella keeps you hooked, even when things get brutal. I’m so invested in Iris. Her story, her struggle, her survival… That ending left me wanting more, I’m seriously crossing my fingers for a sequel.
This book admittedly won’t be for everyone, which is perfectly okay. But if you’re into dark vampire erotica that pushes boundaries and leans into the shadows, this is absolutely worth the read.
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
This book solidifies D.G. Woods as an auto-buy author for me. Her prose is absolutely stunning and haunting, with a way of instantly drawing you in so that you can’t look away. She did this to me with Into the Dark, We Go, and she's done it again here. Now, I must go back and read Fairbanks.
This gore-filled novella starts with a couple living in a remote, fixer-upper estate where they become victims of a sickening vampire attack. Our protagonist, Iris, is kept as a blood source while her girlfriend is tragically killed. Although it’s a short read, the events packed into these pages build a slow, suffocating tension, creating an incredible gothic atmosphere.
Woods has an exceptional ability to make a story with supernatural elements feel deeply, painfully human. Iris’s mindset oscillates beautifully between the terror of her captors and her desperate fantasies of escape. There are so many layers to this brief story. The themes of grief, trauma, control, and lust are palpable on every single page. Woods even weaves in elements of generational trauma, showing the devastating weight of it when left unchecked. While reading, I felt as if I could smell the metallic scent of blood drenching the air and feel the slow decay of the estate. I felt the raw pain and visceral hunger Iris endured as she withered under the control of her vampire captors.
D.G. Woods has crafted an excellent, deeply disturbing vampire horror novella. I continue to be captivated by her work and honestly can’t wait to see what she writes next!
Thank you to D.G. Woods for providing this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
This gore-filled novella starts with a couple living in a remote, fixer-upper estate where they become victims of a sickening vampire attack. Our protagonist, Iris, is kept as a blood source while her girlfriend is tragically killed. Although it’s a short read, the events packed into these pages build a slow, suffocating tension, creating an incredible gothic atmosphere.
Woods has an exceptional ability to make a story with supernatural elements feel deeply, painfully human. Iris’s mindset oscillates beautifully between the terror of her captors and her desperate fantasies of escape. There are so many layers to this brief story. The themes of grief, trauma, control, and lust are palpable on every single page. Woods even weaves in elements of generational trauma, showing the devastating weight of it when left unchecked. While reading, I felt as if I could smell the metallic scent of blood drenching the air and feel the slow decay of the estate. I felt the raw pain and visceral hunger Iris endured as she withered under the control of her vampire captors.
D.G. Woods has crafted an excellent, deeply disturbing vampire horror novella. I continue to be captivated by her work and honestly can’t wait to see what she writes next!
Thank you to D.G. Woods for providing this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
June 28, 2026
Books about vampires have a special place in my heart (and mind, of course). But these days I have trouble finding ones that I won’t drop after a few chapters. Some of them are too silly and lovey-dovey (yeah, I’m a “Twilight” hater, don’t mind me), some are just plain boring, some have awful writing and are boring. But this one, oh, this one made me so happy with all its gore and beauty. Like something rotten (probably meat) and delicious at the same time.
Well, obviously, it’s very well written, and a huge special thanks goes to the Morpheus mention – this guy is surely underappreciated nowadays. But also, all the scenes were so gorgeously cruel and dark that they turned into pure poetry. I may sound like a simp, but, well, it is what it is.
I didn’t have trouble bonding with the characters – I simply didn’t need to. It’s this type of book where you don’t have to sympathize with anyone in order to like it. I was captivated by the story itself, by the beauty of the language, and I just wanted to know what happened next. So Agatha/Iris, Ophelia, Gunnar, Silvy – they all were awful and fascinating at the same time, and I truly appreciate that the author didn’t try to tell me what’s good and what’s evil.
Another great thing about the story is that all the Chekhov’s guns were planted neatly and paid off exactly when they needed to. I saw them coming, and that made the experience even more joyful.
So to be precise – I haven’t read anything like this for a while, and now I want to have a printed copy for my bookshelf – it’d perfectly fill the space beside “Lost Souls”.
Well, obviously, it’s very well written, and a huge special thanks goes to the Morpheus mention – this guy is surely underappreciated nowadays. But also, all the scenes were so gorgeously cruel and dark that they turned into pure poetry. I may sound like a simp, but, well, it is what it is.
I didn’t have trouble bonding with the characters – I simply didn’t need to. It’s this type of book where you don’t have to sympathize with anyone in order to like it. I was captivated by the story itself, by the beauty of the language, and I just wanted to know what happened next. So Agatha/Iris, Ophelia, Gunnar, Silvy – they all were awful and fascinating at the same time, and I truly appreciate that the author didn’t try to tell me what’s good and what’s evil.
Another great thing about the story is that all the Chekhov’s guns were planted neatly and paid off exactly when they needed to. I saw them coming, and that made the experience even more joyful.
So to be precise – I haven’t read anything like this for a while, and now I want to have a printed copy for my bookshelf – it’d perfectly fill the space beside “Lost Souls”.
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.
July 4, 2026
Iris’ life as she knows it is decimated when two impossibly deadly intruders enter the isolated estate she shares with her girlfriend in the middle of the night. Killing her girlfriend is only the first course of terror they will inflict upon her in the long months to come. This book is 150 pages of despair with no relief so strap in. It’s literally my worst nightmare (home invasion) but make it vampires. 🧛♂️
Gunnar and Ophelia have all the classic vamp traits we reach for these stories for - sadism, cruelty, insatiable thirsts both for blood and each other - and this story focuses on their psychological (among other forms of) torture of Iris. The pair initially appear as an impenetrable front but I absolutely loved how the further Gunnar’s character was explored, it exposed the power imbalance between him and Ophelia, who is also not who she seems. All three main characters are incredibly well fleshed out and none of their individual arcs are sacrificed to further the plot/the other characters which I REALLY appreciate.
The title, Loud as Bones, refers to a room of skulls Gunnar has lugged around for centuries, each belonging to a companion he has outlived, and Iris finds they have ability to communicate with her not that they have anything good to say. I absolutely LOVED this concept and the unique take on what human souls can attach to when their life ends. No spoilers but the epilogue I- 🫢
This novella is genuinely stunning to read!! It swallowed me whole with the rich the atmosphere was, I could smell that forsaken rotting house!! 😷
Gunnar and Ophelia have all the classic vamp traits we reach for these stories for - sadism, cruelty, insatiable thirsts both for blood and each other - and this story focuses on their psychological (among other forms of) torture of Iris. The pair initially appear as an impenetrable front but I absolutely loved how the further Gunnar’s character was explored, it exposed the power imbalance between him and Ophelia, who is also not who she seems. All three main characters are incredibly well fleshed out and none of their individual arcs are sacrificed to further the plot/the other characters which I REALLY appreciate.
The title, Loud as Bones, refers to a room of skulls Gunnar has lugged around for centuries, each belonging to a companion he has outlived, and Iris finds they have ability to communicate with her not that they have anything good to say. I absolutely LOVED this concept and the unique take on what human souls can attach to when their life ends. No spoilers but the epilogue I- 🫢
This novella is genuinely stunning to read!! It swallowed me whole with the rich the atmosphere was, I could smell that forsaken rotting house!! 😷
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
I was able to receive an ARC thanks to the author in exchange for an honest review
4.25
This was the first book I've read from the author, and her writing was so incredibly dreamlike and appealing, providing an atmosphere that is somehow simultaneously floaty and claustrophobic. The entire novella takes place within one ruined house, and there is no better place to showcase the protagonist losing herself entirely.
Vampire lore is frequently quite similar, so I can really appreciate the uniqueness of this one, particularly how it was utilized. Details were carefully provided and always had a reason for being there.
Everything was so unbelievably messy and violent, It's hard to choose where to even begin talking about it. I particularly liked the inclusion of the skulls and what they represented (particularly how they related to the protagonist herself).
This book is quick and dreamy and best consumed in one sitting. When you experience it all at once, you can really get sucked deep into this musty and dreadful environment, so much so that you can feel the thick poisonous air within this house.
I really dont have anything bad to say about the quality of execution of the story itself, it just didn't quite speak to me or hit very hard (besides the ending, which I loved) which is why I didn't rate this a 5.
4.25
This was the first book I've read from the author, and her writing was so incredibly dreamlike and appealing, providing an atmosphere that is somehow simultaneously floaty and claustrophobic. The entire novella takes place within one ruined house, and there is no better place to showcase the protagonist losing herself entirely.
Vampire lore is frequently quite similar, so I can really appreciate the uniqueness of this one, particularly how it was utilized. Details were carefully provided and always had a reason for being there.
Everything was so unbelievably messy and violent, It's hard to choose where to even begin talking about it. I particularly liked the inclusion of the skulls and what they represented (particularly how they related to the protagonist herself).
This book is quick and dreamy and best consumed in one sitting. When you experience it all at once, you can really get sucked deep into this musty and dreadful environment, so much so that you can feel the thick poisonous air within this house.
I really dont have anything bad to say about the quality of execution of the story itself, it just didn't quite speak to me or hit very hard (besides the ending, which I loved) which is why I didn't rate this a 5.
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 received from Author
4.5 / 5 stars
Absolutely brilliant. The atmosphere, pacing, tension, and characters are all exceptionally well developed and beautifully written. I especially loved the vampire lore. I've never read or seen anything quite like it before.
My only real critique is entirely subjective: I generally don't enjoy explicit sexual content in the books I read. However, in this story, it felt completely justified. It served the character dynamics and reinforced the dark, visceral tone of the novel rather than existing purely for shock value.
That minor personal preference aside, this is an incredible read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves dark, macabre, and unique stories.
Reference titles: Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen, A Dowry of Blood by S. T. Gibson, The Poisoner by I. V. Ophelia, Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Trigger warnings:
Body horror
Confinement
Death
Gore
Physical abuse
Rape
Sexual assault
Sexual content
Sexual violence
Torture
Blood
Kidnapping
Cannibalism
Murder
Absolutely brilliant. The atmosphere, pacing, tension, and characters are all exceptionally well developed and beautifully written. I especially loved the vampire lore. I've never read or seen anything quite like it before.
My only real critique is entirely subjective: I generally don't enjoy explicit sexual content in the books I read. However, in this story, it felt completely justified. It served the character dynamics and reinforced the dark, visceral tone of the novel rather than existing purely for shock value.
That minor personal preference aside, this is an incredible read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves dark, macabre, and unique stories.
Reference titles: Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen, A Dowry of Blood by S. T. Gibson, The Poisoner by I. V. Ophelia, Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Trigger warnings:
Body horror
Confinement
Death
Gore
Physical abuse
Rape
Sexual assault
Sexual content
Sexual violence
Torture
Blood
Kidnapping
Cannibalism
Murder
August 7, 2026
As soon as I finished it, I had to pick up the next book by D.G. Woods.
Loud as Bones is a quick read, but absolutely packed with character and incredible atmosphere, through prose that is able to manipulate the reader in the same way our protagonist is manipulated and twisted by the home invaders. Even though we can fully grasp the absolute horror of this situation and have no doubts that what these people are doing is pure evil (even when getting to know their histories) we start to buy into their actions.
It's a true feat of writing ability to not cross that line in trivializing the horror going on for a sensationalized adult material, and D.G. Woods achieves it.
The story never shies away from the corruption going on, because that's what it shows it as: a troubled and hurt woman being pushed over the edge. This does not validate violence toward others because of past trauma; it is an honest look at someone crumbling under the weight of it and eventually giving in and being a part of the system that molded her.
Loud as Bones is dark, poetic, gory, and manipulatively sensual, and the perfect start to spooky season reading.
Loud as Bones is a quick read, but absolutely packed with character and incredible atmosphere, through prose that is able to manipulate the reader in the same way our protagonist is manipulated and twisted by the home invaders. Even though we can fully grasp the absolute horror of this situation and have no doubts that what these people are doing is pure evil (even when getting to know their histories) we start to buy into their actions.
It's a true feat of writing ability to not cross that line in trivializing the horror going on for a sensationalized adult material, and D.G. Woods achieves it.
The story never shies away from the corruption going on, because that's what it shows it as: a troubled and hurt woman being pushed over the edge. This does not validate violence toward others because of past trauma; it is an honest look at someone crumbling under the weight of it and eventually giving in and being a part of the system that molded her.
Loud as Bones is dark, poetic, gory, and manipulatively sensual, and the perfect start to spooky season reading.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“For a moment, I was certain Death itself had come to collect me.”
This novella was haunting, heavy, and hungry.
In under 200 pages, it landed like a punch to the gut. The writing was beautiful in the kind of way that lingers long after you’ve closed the book.
“Some things are made beautiful to be destroyed.” That feeling is woven through every page, alongside grief, pain, and the desperate urge to outrun both. And when the story admits that “The craving for death was one thing; the anticipation was another. The wait was worse,” it doesn’t pull its punches.
There were a lot of heavy themes throughout this book, and I found myself needing to step away a few times because of my own triggers. If you’re considering picking it up, I definitely recommend checking the content warnings and taking care of yourself.
If you love dark, disturbing, haunted reads that aren’t afraid to make you uncomfortable, this one delivers.
Thank you to the author for the eARC. 🖤
This novella was haunting, heavy, and hungry.
In under 200 pages, it landed like a punch to the gut. The writing was beautiful in the kind of way that lingers long after you’ve closed the book.
“Some things are made beautiful to be destroyed.” That feeling is woven through every page, alongside grief, pain, and the desperate urge to outrun both. And when the story admits that “The craving for death was one thing; the anticipation was another. The wait was worse,” it doesn’t pull its punches.
There were a lot of heavy themes throughout this book, and I found myself needing to step away a few times because of my own triggers. If you’re considering picking it up, I definitely recommend checking the content warnings and taking care of yourself.
If you love dark, disturbing, haunted reads that aren’t afraid to make you uncomfortable, this one delivers.
Thank you to the author for the eARC. 🖤
June 15, 2026
happy release day to Loud as Bones!
“I wondered what eternity would be like, when the world had already rejected you long before you became the thing that plagued the night.”
What a wild ride. This was my first full blown body horror after beginning to dabble into the horror genre and WOW was this grotesque at times. That is NOT meant as an insult at all. DG is the queen of weaving stories where there is no real protagonist. This is a sapphic vampire novella that gets VERY violent so be sure to check your trigger warnings on this one.
I received this arc at the same time that I was experiencing a bit of a fantasy slump, so it took me longer to get through than usual. But it had nothing to do with the actual story itself. Fully a me problem! I finally locked in and that twist at the end nearly snapped my jaw off. It feels unhinged to say this was a fun time given the contents but like…this was a fun time. 💀
“I wondered what eternity would be like, when the world had already rejected you long before you became the thing that plagued the night.”
What a wild ride. This was my first full blown body horror after beginning to dabble into the horror genre and WOW was this grotesque at times. That is NOT meant as an insult at all. DG is the queen of weaving stories where there is no real protagonist. This is a sapphic vampire novella that gets VERY violent so be sure to check your trigger warnings on this one.
I received this arc at the same time that I was experiencing a bit of a fantasy slump, so it took me longer to get through than usual. But it had nothing to do with the actual story itself. Fully a me problem! I finally locked in and that twist at the end nearly snapped my jaw off. It feels unhinged to say this was a fun time given the contents but like…this was a fun time. 💀
June 19, 2026
This book was just what I needed for a dark and gory, gothic little sapphic vampire romance.
Nothing was held back in this story and I fucking loved every minute of it! | LOVE a little captor/captive trope, especially when things get spicy. Reading this at night was just the perfect setting with some candles going and the rain on my tv playing. I was kicking my little feet at this book while reading and the way my mouth dropped open at a few scenes. I was eating this up fully was in love with this book!
If you are looking for a great vampiric sapphic novella, give Loud as Bones a try.
Please be sure to get yourself reading this ASAP and thank me later. D. G. Woods did an absolutely amazing job with this. The details and feelings you get out of this book was so good the entire time. I haven't stopped thinking about this since finishing it a couple nights ago. I'm still just in awe with this story! And when the title is in the book somewhere, I fucking highlight it and make it every time, I love that so much
Nothing was held back in this story and I fucking loved every minute of it! | LOVE a little captor/captive trope, especially when things get spicy. Reading this at night was just the perfect setting with some candles going and the rain on my tv playing. I was kicking my little feet at this book while reading and the way my mouth dropped open at a few scenes. I was eating this up fully was in love with this book!
If you are looking for a great vampiric sapphic novella, give Loud as Bones a try.
Please be sure to get yourself reading this ASAP and thank me later. D. G. Woods did an absolutely amazing job with this. The details and feelings you get out of this book was so good the entire time. I haven't stopped thinking about this since finishing it a couple nights ago. I'm still just in awe with this story! And when the title is in the book somewhere, I fucking highlight it and make it every time, I love that so much
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2026
“My only way to survive was to join the horror.”
This book is gory, ravenous, and absolutely wild. And it’s not exactly your typical vampire story. When I saw it advertised as a sapphic vampire novella, this is not at all what I expected, but I’m not complaining!
I absolutely devoured it. I sat down and finished it in a three-hour sitting. After reading “Into the Dark, We Go” I already knew I loved D. G. Woods’ writing, and this novella only cemented that. Her prose is accessible yet beautiful.
If I am anything, it is a sucker for a gothic, decaying-house story, and if you combine that with feral, obsessive vampires, it’s pretty much a guaranteed win for me.
The story of Iris gets genuinely dark and unsettling, and the torture she endures is horrifying. It feels claustrophobic and hopeless throughout. The atmosphere suffocates you in the best way.
And the ending? Perfect. No notes.
This book is gory, ravenous, and absolutely wild. And it’s not exactly your typical vampire story. When I saw it advertised as a sapphic vampire novella, this is not at all what I expected, but I’m not complaining!
I absolutely devoured it. I sat down and finished it in a three-hour sitting. After reading “Into the Dark, We Go” I already knew I loved D. G. Woods’ writing, and this novella only cemented that. Her prose is accessible yet beautiful.
If I am anything, it is a sucker for a gothic, decaying-house story, and if you combine that with feral, obsessive vampires, it’s pretty much a guaranteed win for me.
The story of Iris gets genuinely dark and unsettling, and the torture she endures is horrifying. It feels claustrophobic and hopeless throughout. The atmosphere suffocates you in the best way.
And the ending? Perfect. No notes.
June 30, 2026
omg. OMG. i haven’t read anything this deeply uncomfortable, depraved, and violent in a hot minute. gothic house. decay, melancholy, death, destruction, praying to false gods or a God not believed in. it’s erotic but cruel. it’s disjointed love and cruel lust. the cutting and taking of blood can be (and should be) a euphemism for sexual violence. some lovely moments of prose right alongside some heavy handed purple. female rage. feminist horror. obsession and oppression. self destruction and self discovery. UNHINGED WOMEN. womanhood. loved this, adored this.
content & trigger warnings:
★~ cw/tw // can be seen as spoilers
abandonment, abuse, amputation, animal cruelty/death, anxiety, blood, body horror, cannibalism, cheating, confinement, drowning, gore, grief, grooming, injury, rape (mention and on page), sexual assault, suicidal ideation, torture, violence, vomit, toxic relationship
content & trigger warnings:
★~ cw/tw // can be seen as spoilers
abandonment, abuse, amputation, animal cruelty/death, anxiety, blood, body horror, cannibalism, cheating, confinement, drowning, gore, grief, grooming, injury, rape (mention and on page), sexual assault, suicidal ideation, torture, violence, vomit, toxic relationship
July 1, 2026
Loud as Bones is a haunting, gothic vibes, unique vampire story.
Iris loses the love of her life to two vampires and becomes their plaything, trapped in the house she shared with her partner. The rooms are filled with bones and the house reeks of death, blood, and despair. The skulls in the house carry memories though and as Iris is spiraling with the life she has to live now and what she's becoming, she can hear the bones speaking to her, telling their story.
The story is fairly short but beautifully written and absolutely captivating. There was just enough gore to make the story entertaining without making it gruesome. I actually thought that she was going to end up with Gunnar so the twist caught me really off guard. I loved the way this ended, with Iris and Sylvie's bones. The story was unique and unlike any vampire story I've read before. If you want something dark with gothic vibes and an unsettling, eerie feel.. definitely give this one a read!!
Iris loses the love of her life to two vampires and becomes their plaything, trapped in the house she shared with her partner. The rooms are filled with bones and the house reeks of death, blood, and despair. The skulls in the house carry memories though and as Iris is spiraling with the life she has to live now and what she's becoming, she can hear the bones speaking to her, telling their story.
The story is fairly short but beautifully written and absolutely captivating. There was just enough gore to make the story entertaining without making it gruesome. I actually thought that she was going to end up with Gunnar so the twist caught me really off guard. I loved the way this ended, with Iris and Sylvie's bones. The story was unique and unlike any vampire story I've read before. If you want something dark with gothic vibes and an unsettling, eerie feel.. definitely give this one a read!!
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
Loud as Bones might just be one of the best vampire novellas I've read. Dark, brutal, gory, visceral, and aching, in under 200 pages Loud as Bones manages to take us on a ride through every human emotion and a descent into madness. We have deep-set rage, we have disgust, we have veins of a confused, yet visceral lust and eroticism beating beneath the pages.
"It was all death, and sex, and eternal ruin."
It's hard to go in-depth with this review without giving away plot points that made me gasp, so I'll leave you with this: our main character's attachment to Whitmore estate provides great foreshadowing for the events which unfold within this novella.
D.G. Woods has succeeded in creating a beautiful, twisted vampire horror novella!
"These bones were loud. They screamed."
**Make sure to check content warnings. This book has some very dark themes that may be upsetting to some readers. Your mental health is important! <3
"It was all death, and sex, and eternal ruin."
It's hard to go in-depth with this review without giving away plot points that made me gasp, so I'll leave you with this: our main character's attachment to Whitmore estate provides great foreshadowing for the events which unfold within this novella.
D.G. Woods has succeeded in creating a beautiful, twisted vampire horror novella!
"These bones were loud. They screamed."
**Make sure to check content warnings. This book has some very dark themes that may be upsetting to some readers. Your mental health is important! <3
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