Celestial | Salt Bones: A Novel
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Salt Bones: A Novel
Jennifer Givhan
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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.
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Posts about this title from Celestial
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 16
let’s talk about folk horror (round two)!
let’s talk about folk horror (round two)! superstitions, isolation, rituals, folkloric creatures and myths and legends … i love it all.
📚 books mentioned: - The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw - Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark - Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan
👗💄: - shirt is from Anthropologie - overalls are from Old Navy - eyeshadow is In A Trance Palette from Colourpop - shimmer is an eyeshadow single (Blushing Lizard) from Half Magic - eyeliner is 24HR Waterproof Eyeliner (Plum) from Persona Cosmetics - lip combo is Suede Matte Lip Liner (Moonwalk) from NYX Cosmetics, Cloud Whip Liquid Lipstick (Storm Cloud) from Colourpop, and Magic Drip Glitter Lip Gloss (Virtual BFF) from Half Magic - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Tor Nightfire and Little, Brown,and Company for the gifted copies!
#folkhorror #horrorbooks #horrorbookrecs #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @tornightfire @tordotcompub @torbooks @littlebrown @anthropologie @oldnavy @colourpopcosmetics @personacosmetics @halfmagicbeauty
3 books
2
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 15
which one convinced you the most? 🫨
which one convinced you the most? 🫨 part twenty-three of one star goodreads reviews of books i enjoyed!
📚 books mentioned: - On Sundays She Picked Flowers by Yah-Yah Scholfield - No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull - The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo - Herculine by Grace Byron - The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas - Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan - Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
👗💄: - eyeshadow is The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite - eyeshadow shimmer is Lucid Dream from Ourbella Cosmetics - mascara is Highly Rated XL from Milani - lip combo is Lippie Pencil (Twisted) from Colourpop and Shine-On Milky Lip Oil Jelly (Pistachio) from Tower28 - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Saga Press and Little, Brown, and Co or the gifted copies!
#onestarreviews #negativebookreview #goodreadsreviews #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @sagapressbooks @blackstonepublishing @henryholtbooks @berkleypub @littlebrown @eccobooks @torbooks
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reading one star reviews of books i loved • recommending books using their negative goodreads reviews • 1 star book reviews • bookish humor • diverse books • Blackstone Publishing • Henry Holt & Co • Berkley Books • Ecco • Tor Books
8 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 10
🥒 don’t worry, i’ll never stop recommending pickle books …
(pickle books are books that leave you with a sour aftertaste in a positive way. yes, this is a concept i made up. no, i’ll never stop trying to make pickle books a ‘thing’.)
📚 books mentioned: - A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang - Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan - Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
👗💄: - pickle hat was gifted from Out of Print! #outofprintpartner #gifted - eyeshadow is The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite - eyeliner is Epiphany Glow Melt-On (Limelight) from Kaleidos - mascara is Liquid Lash Extensions Tubing Mascara (Ivy) from Thrive Causemetics - lip combo is Lippie Pencil (Twisted) from Colourpop and PhD Hybrid Lip Glaze (Cocoa) from Haus Labs - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Little Brown, and Company, William Morrow, and Pantheon for the gifted copies!
#picklebooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @littlebrown @williammorrowbooks @pantheonbooks @doubledaybooks @outofprint @glamlite @kaleidosmakeup
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science fiction books • thriller books • horror books • dystopian books • weird books • disturbing books • magical realism books • literary fiction book recommendations • diverse books
3 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 20
💭 are you a part of any book clubs?
to be fair, i think most books have great book club potential - but here are some that i think could lead to especially rich discussions!
📚 books mentioned: - These Memories Do Not Belong to Us by Yiming Ma - Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan - Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
👗💄: - eyeshadow is The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite - eyeshadow shimmer is Atlantic and Midsummer from Ourbella Cosmetics - lip combo is Staining Lip Liner (La La La) from Kulfi Beauty and EmpowerGloss Ultra-Glossy Lip Serum (Liliana) from Thrive Causemetics - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Mariner Books and Mulholland Books for the gifted copies!
#bookclubbooks #literaryfiction #speculativebooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @marinerbooks @mulhollandbooks @littlebrown @groveatlantic @glamlite @ourbella.us @kulfi.beauty @thrivecausemetics
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good books for book club • book club discussion books • science fiction books • dystopian books • literary fiction books • horror and thriller books • speculative books • diverse books • Grove Atlantic
3 books
1
💭 what types of stories do you reach for more in the winter?
💭 what types of stories do you reach for more in the winter?
here are some of my recent favorite reads with folkloric twists! they’re all super original stories, but take inspiration from different myths.
📚 books mentioned: - Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan - Undrowned by G.M. DiDesidero - The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez - Death’s Country by R.M. Romero
👗💄: - sweater dress is from Olivia Rubin, rented from Nuuly - eyeshadow is In A Trance Palette from Colourpop, You Make Me Happy Palette from KimChi Chic Beauty, and The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite - lip combo is Lippie Pencil (Twisted) from Colourpop and Shine-On Milky Lip Oil Jelly (Pistachio) from Tower28 - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Mulholland Books, Leaning Pole Press, Tor Books, and Peachtree Teen for the gifted copies!
#horrorbooks #fantasybooks #bookrecs #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @mulhollandbooks @littlebrown @chickasawpress @torbooks @peachtreeteen @oliviarubin @colourpopcosmetics @kimchichicbeauty @glamlite @tower28beauty
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folkloric books • fantasy retellings • horror folklore • mythology books • fantasy books • unique fantasy book recs • horror books • horror book recs • diverse books
4 books
1
Posts about this book from across Bindery
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 16
let’s talk about folk horror (round two)!
let’s talk about folk horror (round two)! superstitions, isolation, rituals, folkloric creatures and myths and legends … i love it all.
📚 books mentioned: - The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw - Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark - Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan
thank you to Tor Nightfire and Little, Brown,and Company for the gifted copies!
3 books
2
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 15
which one convinced you the most? 🫨
which one convinced you the most? 🫨 part twenty-three of one star goodreads reviews of books i enjoyed!
thank you to Saga Press and Little, Brown, and Co or the gifted copies!
.
8 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 10
🥒 don’t worry, i’ll never stop recommending pickle books …
📚 books mentioned: - A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang - Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan - Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
thank you to Little Brown, and Company, William Morrow, and Pantheon for the gifted copies!
#picklebooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @littlebrown @williammorrowbooks @pantheonbooks @doubledaybooks @outofprint @glamlite @kaleidosmakeup
.
3 books
Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 20
💭 are you a part of any book clubs?
to be fair, i think most books have great book club potential - but here are some that i think could lead to especially rich discussions!
📚 books mentioned: - These Memories Do Not Belong to Us by Yiming Ma - Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan - Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
thank you to Mariner Books and Mulholland Books for the gifted copies!
.
3 books
1
💭 what types of stories do you reach for more in the winter?
💭 what types of stories do you reach for more in the winter?
here are some of my recent favorite reads with folkloric twists! they’re all super original stories, but take inspiration from different myths.
thank you to Mulholland Books, Leaning Pole Press, Tor Books, and Peachtree Teen for the gifted copies!
.
4 books
1
Bien Leidos\ \ tomesandtextiles\ \ • Nov 25 2025
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Weekly reading update #novemberreading #currentlyreading #avidreader #bienleidos #tomesandtextiles
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Bien Leidos\ \ tomesandtextiles\ \ • Nov 17 2025
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November Week 2 reading was immensely enjoyable #novemberreading #latinxbooks #nonfictionbooktok #bienleidos #tomesandtextiles
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chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Nov 4 2025
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Kurryreads\ \ Kerry\ \ • Nov 1 2025
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Indigenous Heritage Month - Thriller, Mystery, & Horror Book Recommendations
Native American Heritage Month - Thriller, Mystery, and Horror books by Indigenous Authors to diversify your bookshelves 📚📖 #nativeamericanheritagemonth #indigenousbooks #readindigenous #booktok #bookrecommendations
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Kurryreads\ \ Kerry\ \ • Oct 5 2025
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Quarter 3 2025 - 5 star reads (+ 4.75 star reads) 📚📖 #5starreads #booktok #thrillerbooks #horrorbooks #favoritebooks
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Kurryreads\ \ Kerry\ \ • Sep 15 2025
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Hispanic Heritage Month Thriller Mystery & Horror Book Recommendations 📚📖 #hispanicauthors #latinxauthors #horrorbooks #thrillerbooks #booktok
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chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Sep 15 2025
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a very yappy vibes-based fall tbr
I was VERY yappy when I filmed this buckle in besties #booktok #toberrad #falltbr #fallbooks #tbrlist
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chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Aug 20 2025
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Thank you Aardvark these look SO SO GOOD #booktok #aardvarkbookclub #bookunboxing #romancebooks #horrorbooks
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Kurryreads\ \ Kerry\ \ • Aug 14 2025
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Ultimate Guide to Spooky Season Reading v2
Replying to @Kerry | Booktok 📖 Ultimate Guide to Spooky Season Reading - Version 2 📚👻🔪 Timestamps: 00:28 Stranger Than Fiction 00:39 Witchy 00:47 Creature Feature 1:03 Dark Past-Potentially Paranormal 1:14 Possession 1:19 Slashers 1:32 Haunted House 1:42 Eco Horror/Plant Horror 1:48 Supernatural 1:57 Demonic/Occult 2:06 Cosmic 2:13 Folklore 2:26 Speculative 2:35 Young Adult 2:46 Paranormal 2:55 Psychological 3:03 Crime 3:13 Historical Fiction 3:29 Cult 3:43 Vampires 3:51 Weird Girl/Feminine Rage 4:00 Sci-Fi 4:08 Cannibalism #guidetospookyseasonreading #spookyreads #horrorbooks #cultbooks #paranormalbooks #hauntedhousebooks #possessionbooks #creaturefeature #booktok #booktoker #bookrecommendations #whattoread #vampirebooks #speculativehorror #youngadulthorror #folklorebooks #ecohorrorbooks #scifihorrorbooks #slasherbooks #scarybooks
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Arcane Nights Press\ \ Cassidy\ \ • Jul 22 2025
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Bien Leidos\ \ tomesandtextiles\ \ • Jul 22 2025
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[Good morning, internet amigxs and welcome to the first installment of weekly Latine book releases here on Bindery! The interface here is a little different and I'm on a bit of a learning curve for the interface, so please bear with me as I transition! I will say, the formatting on here so much more aesthetic and makes it clearer to understand, so I hope you enjoy the new format, too!\ \ A reminder that a week from today I'll be in conversation with THE Aiden Thomas on July 29th at 6PM EST on Instagram Live. We did some reading sprints this weekend in preparation over on Discord, so if you haven't joined us, what are you waiting for?\ \ Speaking of Discord, we're currently running a poll to pick out the November Bien Leidos book club pick. If you're interested in having a say, please head over to the #polls channel on Discord by end of day today. You can find our August - September picks already announced here (social media announcement for August coming up this week).\ \ And now on to our Latine book releases this week, starting with the BOOK OF THE WEEK...\ \ \ \ Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan (Book | Audiobook) gripping retelling of Persephone and Demeter in the Mexicali borderlands from the author of River Woman, River Demon. I'm eagerly anticipating my copy so I can read it.\ \ SPEC FICTION \ \ Echoes and Embers: Speculative Stories by Pedro Iniguez (Book) Released 7/15!!!! Short stories for lovers of science fiction and fantasy weaving Latinx themes and pulp stylings.\ \ GOTHIC \ \ \ \ Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez (Book | Audiobook) Cuban a twisty gothic debut about two former best friends reconnecting at a secluded house deep in the swamplands of Florida\ \ LITERARY FICTION\ \ \ \ The Tilting House by Ivonne Lamazeras (Book) Literary historical fiction of two estranged sisters with a complicated past and an acrimonious present reunite in 1990s Cuba to confront the riddle of family amid the scars of political upheaval.\ \ NONFICTION \ \ So What If I'm a Puta: Diaries of Transness, Sex Work, Desire by Amara Moira, Edited by Amanda de Lisio and Translated by Bruna Dantas Lobato (Book) Essay collection that looks at trans workers in Brazil.\ \ \ \ Everyone Leaves/Todos Se Van by Wendy Guerra (Book | Audiobook) Available in both English and Spanish (Book | Audiobook), CNN's Wendy Guerra details her coming of age under the Castro regime through journal entries.\ \ PICTURE BOOK \ \ Diego Fuego the Firefighting Dragon by Allison Rozo & Rafael Rozo |Illustrated by Vanessa Morales (Book) Based on cover and them alone--a firefighting DRAGON?!?! How cute is this?\ \ PAPERBACK RELEASE \ \ Pink Slime by Fernanda Trias (Book | Audiobook) I reviewed this book last year after Silvia Moreno-Garcia recommended it in her newsletter and I was NOT disappointed. A dystopian novel-in-translation that's more timely nor more than ever.\ \
Some of you have asked about the illustration I'm using on here, so I'm working on a post about the artist and our collaboration. I'll have it up later this week!\\
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**xoxo, Carmen**\\
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Join for free or login](https://bien-leidos.binderybooks.com/item/WgCfMxBW88ULCd0JX1Fy/)
[Weekly Newsletter: July 22nd Latine Book Releases](https://bien-leidos.binderybooks.com/item/WgCfMxBW88ULCd0JX1Fy/)
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July Thriller, Mystery, and Horror book releases! #newbooks #upcomingbooks #thrillerbooks #horrorbooks #mysterybooks #whattoread #booktok #booktoker #bookrecommendations #bibliophile #bookworm
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