Shady Grove wants nothing more than to be a good enough musician to play in a bluegrass band with her friends, and she wishes her daddy’s fiddle hadn’t drown in the lake with him 5 years ago. It was a special instrument that, when played just right, could call the dead, and there’s a good chance Shady would be able to use it since she already can sense the ghosts all around her in her daddy’s childhood home and in the woods surrounding it. That seems an impossible dream, though, until her stepdad is murdered and her brother is blamed. It’s then that the ghosts start calling her to find her daddy’s fiddle, and she’s determined to do just that so she can use it to find out who really committed the crime. But there’s a reason her family hid the fiddle and lied to her about it – the cost of playing it is higher than she can imagine…

This YA novel has it all: bisexual bluegrass-playing teens, multiple murder mysteries, a fiddle that can raise the dead, and spooky atmosphere for miles. What more could you possibly need in a fall read?! I adored it. ( )

3.5/5 ( )

I really enjoyed this- usually I’m skeptical of books over 300 pages, but the author wrote side stories that I was invested in. I actually cared for the characters and wanted to know what would happen and how. I thought it was legit creepy too, and loved how the Frank and Jim story wrapped up, showing that anger and fury can last a lifetime- and maybe beyond. But she shows that with love as well. ( )

This was a highly anticipated read for me this year, and it did not disappoint! First things first. The cover. Absolutely frickin’ gorgeous. It captures the story’s intrigue and grit without being overwhelming or childish. I was swooning the moment I set eyes on it.

Secondly – the story itself. Ghost Wood Song is Erica Waters’ debut novel, classified as a young adult fantasy with LGBT elements. Couple that with an interesting book summary, and you get high expectations from me, myself, and I. Waters took my expectations, blew them out of the water and sent them to outer space, I was that impressed with this book.

Shady Grove is the main character in this story, a teenager who, like her deceased father, can summon ghosts with his fiddle. This inevitably leads to trouble down the road, but she must use these skills to help try to clear the name of her brother, who’s gotten himself into a spot of “accused of murder” issues. This is an incredibly atmospheric and gritty book, the haunting lyricism of the story winding a suspenseful and compelling tale that you just. can’t. put. down.

No matter how much we like each other, sometimes it’s not enough to want to be together.

The book is filled with nostalgia, music, and teenage angst that feels relevant and real, and doesn’t consume the story or become Shady’s identity. Waters drops solid advice and words of wisdom to the reader, which is relevant to ALL ages and made the book feel universal at times. That was probably my second favorite part of the book – the teenage elements were never the main focus of the story. They were introduced naturally, and pulled the reader along without taking away from the main plot.

Bluegrass lyrics are almost always about death, loss, and unrequited love, but the music – the noise we make with our banjos and our fiddles – is joyful. The dead are always with us, even after their ghosts move on, but it’s the life pulsing through our veins that makes the music.

My most favorite part of the story though was how central music was. As a musician myself, I was utterly absorbed in how thoroughly music was integrated into the lives of each character; it moved the plot forward in the best way, and it reignited my love of bluegrass with a fierce passion. Coupled with the lyrical nature of the storytelling and the vivid depictions of the environment, and it transported me directly into the story.

When it comes down to it, this was a solid book with a dynamic cast and imaginative setting. I would 100% recommend this to anyone interested in ghosts, music, and Southern Gothic themes.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

An intricate story about family bonds and the ghosts of the past. Family intrigue at its finest, a sister trying to save her brother from murder charges. Experience adolescent relationships in all their messy detail. I can’t wait to read more of her books in the future! ( )