Salt Bones – Jennifer Givhan

Not going to lie, I had high hopes for this book from the moment I saw it. Best part? This lived up to those expectations and it was as good as the cover is beautiful.

Thank you Mulholland Books and Novel Suspects for the gifted copy

SALT BONES – Jennifer Givhan (Releasing July 22nd, 2025)

Book Description:

For fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic and Ramona Emerson’s Shutter: a gripping retelling of Persephone and Demeter in the Mexicali borderlands

At the edge of the Salton Sea, in the blistering borderlands, something is out hunting. . .

Malamar Veracruz has never left the dust-choked town of El Valle. Here, Mal has done her best to build a good life. She’s raised two children, worked hard, and tried to forget the painful, unexplained disappearance of her sister, Elena. When another local girl goes missing, Mal plunges into a fresh yet familiar nightmare. As a desperate Mal hunts for answers, her search becomes increasingly tangled with inscrutable visions of a horse-headed woman, a local legend who Mal feels compelled to follow. Mal’s perspective is joined by the voices of her two daughters, all three of whom must work to uncover the truth about the missing girls in their community before it’s too late.

Combining elements of Latina and Indigenous culture, family drama, mystery, horror, and magical realism in a spellbinding mix, Salt Bones lays bare the realities of environmental catastrophe, family secrets, and the unrelenting bond between mothers and daughters.

My Thoughts: 5/5 stars

I’ve loved this cover since I first saw it. Seeing the synopsis and knowing this is a Persephone retelling of sorts, AND having folklore in the mix sold me instantly. While I’m partial to Hades and Persephone related stories, I was curious to see how Demeter was represented. 

Combining domestic suspense and family drama with some magical realism and horror make for an enchanting and mesmerizing read. Years ago, Mal’s sister, Elena, went missing, and now, her daughter, Amaranta, has gone missing. With her visions and dreams of El Cucuy and La Siguanaba becoming consuming and even beginning to spill into real life, she becomes increasingly desperate to find Amaranta. 

I loved everything about the Latin and Indigenous folklore. Give me any and all of it from all cultures. While I wouldn’t consider this terrifying, it does heavily contribute to the horror experienced. I loved the more magical realism approach with these memorable legends. I loved the inclusion of Spanish throughout the book. Please, please, please don’t let that deter you because there’s enough context for you to follow along if you aren’t as familiar with the language. The writing was beautiful, and the author perfectly captured how truly complex the relationships can be between a mother and daughter.