I also adored the mix of Irish folklore and bluegrass. The whole scenario reminded me of the song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". Shady wants to raise her stepdads ghost to find out the truth about her brother, but to raise ghosts Shady has to welcome in the darkness and because of that she awakens the Shadow Man. The book is a lot about family history and the secrets parents hide from their children. It is a look at the weight of secrets on a family, how it can erode and cause rifts, fighting, pain, and even death. Shady must navigate these secrets, this turmoil, and hope that her families past decisions do not kill her. It is also about friendship and the power of love to overcome darkness. I do not particularly enjoy reading about love triangles, so the romance in this book fell flat for me. I know that part of my issue was that I recently read a story with the same bisexual representation (which, so excited to read bi rep!), but both featured the lead choosing the guy and the female love interest being an emotionally closed off best friend. The best part of the book though was Shady's band, all of whom backed her up and protected her from the ghosts she had to raise. It really highlighted the protectiveness of her friends and the power of community and communal singing. It also underscored the sadness of Bluegrass, but also the love and power that resides in the song. The love the musicians have for the music, the quick playing and joyful melody. I urge you to listen to some of the bluegrass songs mentioned throughout the book, really adds to the experience of the novel. Thank you so much to HarperCollins for providing me with an ebook in exchange for an honest review.
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