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Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: Available Now
290 Pages
Synopsis: Something is wrong in Hidden Creek. The sleepy Alabama town is more haunted than any place fiend hunter Grisham Caso has ever seen. Unearthed graves, curse bags, and spilled blood all point to an evil that could destroy his gargoyle birthright. The town isn’t safe for anyone, and everyone say fiery Piper Devon knows why.
Piper wants to leave Hidden Creek behind. She’s had enough of secrets–they hide in the shadows of her room and tell her terrible things are coming. Too-charming city boy Grisham might be her only chance to save herself.
To survive, Piper and Grisham have to shed their secrets and depend only on each other. But what lurks in Hidden Creek still might take everything away from them, including each other.
I have to be honest and admit the main reason why I requested Secrets of Skin and Stone was the mention of gargoyles. I have a fondness for them and personally feel there aren’t enough books featuring them. The premise was intriguing, but I didn’t expect to be so completely charmed by the story and Piper and Gris. Piper is a cutter and has OCD so please be aware of this trigger. A week or so ago I gave another YA novel, The Suffering Tree, a poor review primarily because of a main character who also self-harmed, and not only was there no advance trigger warning, but I felt the issue was poorly handled in the story itself. This was definitely not the case here. On the page directly before the beginning of the first chapter, there’s this warning:
Trigger Warning:
This book contains fictional descriptions of self-harm. All attempts were made by the author, who has a personal history of self-harm, to portray cutting as realistic, but not gratuitous. These scenes are crucial to the characterization of the mental disorder represented.
Yes! That is what I want to see when an issue like this is a major part of the story. And true to this warning, the reasons for Piper’s cutting herself are thoroughly explored and her actions are not ignored, at least by Gris who understands the stress and despair behind her cutting and helps her discover that she doesn’t need to do this to herself in order to gain relief. Her OCD is also addressed although in a somewhat more limited fashion. While you would think these two issues would make Piper seem weak and vulnerable, let me assure you she’s anything but. She’s feisty, determined, and ignores the cruel words thrown at her by many of the other residents of Hidden Creek. What does haunt her is that she believes there’s a hidden darkness in her. This is heartbreakingly illustrated when after her dog is brutally killed, she decides to make a list of possible suspects and puts her own name on it. This is just one of the many times I wanted to reach in and hug her. And then there’s Gris. He is without a doubt Piper’s soulmate. As a gargoyle, or “Watcher” he’s in a perfect position to help her given that a mysterious villain is sending fiends after her. While his feelings of love for her develop pretty quickly, Piper is extremely distrustful of him in the beginning and it takes a little while for her to warm up to him. Once she does though, they’re the type of couple that give you the warm fuzzies. The secondary characters are okay, but because I was so invested in Piper and Gris, they didn’t really stand out as much to me. The identity of the villain wasn’t a huge shock, but that didn’t take anything away from the climax. The other thing I wanted to be sure to mention was how much I loved the setting. Although this story is contemporary, the description of Hidden Creek almost reads like a Southern Gothic. The dialogue between the characters that features that deep southern drawl helps bring this to life. Overall, while Secrets of Skin and Stone isn’t action-packed from beginning to end, I was still completely captivated. Starting with two main characters that I think readers will fall in love with and an original and creative mythology featuring gargoyles, this book should have wide appeal for fans of YA supernatural fiction. While this may be a standalone novel, I’m hoping it’s not because I’d love to see more of Piper and Gris.
beetleypete said:
Another 4.5. You’re on a roll, Kim! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I do love it when this happens Pete!😊
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Felicia Denise said:
I love that the mental health disorders are properly addressed in a responsible manner, but when I saw “skin” in the title, then this, “Unearthed graves, curse bags, and spilled blood”, I should have walked the long way around this post. #BigScaredyCatIssues 😀
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Hahaha!😁 Honestly Felicia, there’s some scary moments, but overall it’s not too bad.😊
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Felicia Denise said:
“Scary moments”, she said. LOL! 😀
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
😂
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Carrie said:
Great review Kim! I knew that after reading your other review with the book with the character dealing with cutting that you would find Piper much more realistic. The author did a wonderful job with her character that you could feel her struggles and the growth she had during the story instead of the one you described as glamorizing the subject.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Carrie! This was so much better than The Suffering Tree. I do hope it’s not the last we see of Piper and Gris. I really lo v ed the two of them!😊
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Carrie said:
I didn’t see anything anywhere about this one continuing but if it does I’d definitely pick up another book too. 🙂
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ravenblake99 said:
I’m glad you loved this book! I agree, there’s not been many gargoyle stories these days and I’m so looking forward to read this book. Great Review! 🙂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
This is a really neat take on gargoyle mythology Raven. I’m so happy you’re going to read it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!😊
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ashley said:
This book seems really interesting and different. I loved how in your review that you stated that this book actually has a trigger warning. I don’t come across too many books that do have them.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Ashley. Not posting some kind of warning is one of my biggest pet peeves.😒
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TeacherofYA said:
I saw this at the Con and grabbed it: it looked too good. And I’m glad I did with this description and rating!!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Yay! I hope you enjoy it!😊
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KrystiYAandWine said:
Gargoyles! You totally had me at gargoyles! Plus that cover is incredible. Fantastic review. I need to check this out, especially with that rating!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Krysti! You’ve got to get your hands on this. I really think you’re gonna love Piper and Gris!😊
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KrystiYAandWine said:
I think you’re right, Kim. I think you’re right. 🙂
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Diana said:
I read your review on Suffering Tree about how the self-harm was portrayed. I am glad that this was different with a realistic and sensitive potrayal and its nice to see the trigger warning was included. Great review!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Diana. What a difference there is between the two books.
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LizScanlon said:
Ah… great review!!! I love the cover and you’re totally right- not enough gargoyles!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Liz! Amy Plum had a great YA trilogy with gargoyles, but those are the only other ones I’ve come across.
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LizScanlon said:
Oh cool… will check it out, thanks for the heads up! 🙂
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Birdie said:
Wow! That sounds really good! I love the gargoyles too, and it would have been what hooked me as well. I may have to see if this is still available. 🙂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
This is must read for gargoyle fans Birdie!
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Literary Dust said:
I love that cover! 😍
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It caught my eye as well.😊
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Lashaan (Bookidote) said:
I honestly never heard of any stories with gargoyles… Might have to search for those now. They’re definitely amazing creatures. 😛 The only times I see them… is when Batman is standing on one. A statue though..
P.S. Have you heard about Adam West’s passing? 😦
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
There’s a lovely YA trilogy by Amy Plum called Die For Me, which is about gargoyles in Paris. I did hear about Adam West’s death.😞 The only reason why I didn’t do a post was because I had a wicked migraine all weekend so I wasn’t online.
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Lashaan (Bookidote) said:
Awww man… I’m so sorry to hear about those migraine gremlins. I was about to ask how you were doing too!! I hope you get better soon. Those nasty things shouldn’t exist. At all.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Lashaan. Someone needs to come up with a cure!😞
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Jen said:
Ohhhh I love books about gargoyles too and they’re SO hard to find! This one sounds right up my alley and I have a feeling I’ll enjoy it as much as you! Plus I’m so happy there was a warning and that everything was handled so well. Yay all around!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I think you would love this one Jen!😊
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Rebecca Dawn said:
One series you must read, that I simply adored was called House of Cards (the Negotiator series) by S E Murphy
It is about a lawyer named Margrit who stumbles into the world of the supernatural when she meets a gargoyle -Alban while running at night. saves her from a mugging and exposes himself and the Old Races to the public which in turn she finds herself negotiating a treaty with Albans old rivals a Dragon crime lord and Vampire
What I like about this series was Margrit’s
Love for Alban her determination to find the truth about the Old Races.
Truth be told I really enjoyed her repartee with Janx the dragon lord than I did with Alban.
I absolutely adored this series
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Ooh! I forgot about that series! I absolutely LOVED it! I should go look up and see if Murphy has come out with anything new lately.😊
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vinnieh said:
4.5, a high scuff indeed.
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vinnieh said:
Should have said high score.
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