There is always something special about going into a book with little to no expectations to end up having your mind blown by how good the book is. The Gravewood totally delivered.

In the Gravewood, we follow Shea, who lived her entire life in a small town at the border of the Gravewood - a dark forest haunted by dark creatures and a disease threatening to infest the town. Desperate for hearing aid batteries, she is forced to make a deal with the devil - Lysander, a dangerous vampire leader who rules the Gravewood in exchange for blood. Until Shea's best friend goes missing, and her brother Asher comes back to find her.

First of all, I absolutely loved the setting and the writing - the way the authors wrote this book had me absolutely hypnotised. This story is dual POV, and both POVs were equally strong. I loved Shea's POV, she was a very likeable FMC, she was complex and multilayered, with her story fleshed out and her motivations clear. I also absolutely loved Lysander's POVs - his background, his story, his thoughts, he was so intriguing and mysterious, and I absolutely ate it up. The yearning was also TOP TIER. I loved the way both POVs mentioned the blood lust, how to distinguish between the blood lust and love, and how well it was done.

The setting was also perfect for the story - in a dark, post-apocalyptic, dystopian world, full of dangers and where the threat of turning exists at every turn, the setting was dark and gritty, full of violence and death, and I absolutely loved it. The story was also interesting with the Gravewood at the centre, vampires and Hollows, Lysander and Paris' conflict, and the mysteries about Ellie's disappearance. The story was compelling, the characters were likeable and intriguing, and the setting and atmosphere were perfectly written. I also love that this book has an FMC with a disability, with Shea being deaf. It does serve the plot, and it's also good to have some representation rather than having a total badass and (somehow) unkillable FMC.

From beginning to end, I was absolutely entralled by the story, the writing and the setting, and I cannot give this book any other rating than 5 stars. I cannot wait to read the second book because the ending was really good, and it sets up a second book so perfectly that I can feel the yearning and the pain of the second book from reading the last few pages, and I need to find out how the story ends.

🥀 A twisted tale of yearning, desperation and darkness; a story that will have you hanging on its every word 🥀

From the first page, this book sunk its teeth into my wrist and would not let go. Responsibilities? Forget about them. Chores? They can wait for one more day. Socialising? Don't need it.

This book stared into my little elder emo heart and sang to it in a way that had me desperate to read 'just one more page.' The world-building is stunning, though not so intricate and overwhelming that you have no idea what is happening. From the earliest chapters, mysteries are woven into the fabric of the plot, daring you to try and figure it out. Despite this, the twists and turns had me genuinely shocked, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

Shea, the FMC, is a delightful blend of contractions: she is terrified yet brave; she is stubborn yet compliant when it suits; she is world-weary yet naive; she is lonely yet has multiple love interests. My favourite element of this book was trying to figure her out. I think, at her core, she is a scared little girl who has to play at being the hero until she really becomes one. She has been abandoned in one way or another by everyone who she has ever loved and has barely scratched the surface of the trauma that comes with that.

Enter Lys. Strong, powerful and - from the outside - in control. Everything Shea wishes she was. It's no wonder she is drawn to him like a moth to a flame. What starts out as a transactional relationship quickly evolves into so much more. Lys is completely obsessed with Shea and would (probably literally) tear the world apart to keep her safe. The more that you learn about him, his motives and his backstory, the more your heart breaks for him. The more you understand why he is the way he is. The more you understand his violent and merciless acts.

UGHH. I could keep writing but I don't want to spoil anything.

You just really have to read this for yourself as soon as possible! 😍

This review is definitely going to involve me absolutely losing it over this book and fangirling HARD. THIS WAS EVERYTHING!!!! Thank you to Netgalley and TransWorld for this eArc 🥀

After the worst 3-month reading slump, and having tried every tip under the sun to cure it....THIS is the book that revived me and brought me back to life!!! My first 5 star read of the year and all I keep asking myself is ''WHY did I not read this as soon as my request got accepted?!?!'' I am in awe of Kelly Andrew's writing and The Gravewood has firmly cemented itself as one of my favourite reads of 2026. Within the first couple of pages I had a feeling this was going to be phenomenal and I'm so happy to report that feeling stayed with me throughout the book! (And yes, I did binge in under 24 hours and it was the best time of my life).

In a world where the deadly and eerie forest (The Gravewood) cuts Shea's town off from the world, the hardship and survival revolves around rationing food and supplies which aren't readily available. This becomes a challenge when Shea relies on regularly switching out her batteries for her hearing aid, without them she will be left in silence. Shea ventures into the forest to make a deal with The Gravewood Devil (Lys), the leader of the local vampires, and in exchange for her blood, he will supply her with batteries. Her best friend's disappearance forces Shea to make a new deal with the Gravewood devil. The eeriness and ''aliveness' of the forest gives the story a very atmospheric feeling to it, lush gothic vibes with a touch of gore and horror.

One of my favourite parts of this story is the angst and the tension between Lys & Shea, it reminded me of TVD and the insane chemistry we had between Damon & Elena. Imagine that but a THOUSAND times better. Oliver Lysander (Lys) is absolutely SO DOWN BAD for Shea Parker. The balance between the romance and the plot is fantastic and should be considered the standard for dark fantasy romance books. As their connection is explored, in the back of my mind all I kept thinking was ''Is this love or is it bloodlust?'', I was definitely kept on my toes. Dual POVs are always my favourite and getting to know both Lys & Shea through their perspectives made them feel so real - both have their own flaws but you start to understand why the decisions that they do and what they have gone through in childhood to make them into who they are.

Overall, I am now going to need around 7-10 working days to recover from this book. THAT ending? I need book 2 immediately!!!!! It was absolutely fantastic and Kelly Andrew is a new favourite author!

Twilight resurgence?? YES! This gave me everything I wanted and more. This is peak 2000’s literature in all the best ways, vampires and a dystopian world? Say no more

Honestly I loved the writing of this book, the atmosphere and the relationships. But the nostalgia vibes really just drove this one home for me.

Where do I even start. The introduction had me, hook line and sinker. The remainder of the book had my heart rushing and my emotions flaring. I was anxious and excited with every chapter.

Shea and Lysander are complex but beautifully written. I need so much more!

What an absolute blessing to have gotten this as an ARC. stunning read and a new author on my list. I loved the writing style and pace.!

Going to need book two asap!

wow, just wow!

I’ve always been a huge dystopian girlie and that mixed with vampires was just so fascinating and interesting for me! I am pleasantly surprised by the originality and plot twists.

This is a top tier romantasy with beautiful writing and such complex, flawed characters whom had me hooked from the beginning. The grief within the characters was sharp yet with Kelly’s writing it flowed beautifully.

Even the side characters had me, it was very well rounded and Kelly made me care so deeply, I was very sad when it ended. I did in fact cry at the end but the banter between the characters made up for it🤣


AND THE WORLD BUILDING, phenomenal. It felt as if I was there at times.

the yearning had me in a chokehold god damn and Lys is officially up there with the best book boyfriend, WE LOVE A DOWN BAD MAN and Shea, my wonderful girl🥹 I have never read a book with a deaf MFC and it was refreshing to feel her struggles and how she absolutely persevered throughout!

this was my first book by Kelly but if definitely won’t be the last, I’m very excited and intrigued to see where everything will lead

thankyou wayward and netgalley💛