The Swallows - by Kristen Clanton (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In the Black Mountain region, Fullmouth is a town of women and children. When local mothers start dying, the town is panicked. At first, the citizens believe the deaths are suicides. Yet fifteen-year-old Pearl is unconvinced. Pearl has known visions her whole life, known the feeling of when the darkness shifts inside her, and her power comes to surface. But having recently moved to Fullmouth, the supernatural is suddenly magnified. She now finds herself able to commune with ghosts. She sees visions of how mothers will die. Relying on these powers, Pearl faces a daunting foe and the responsibility of saving the town. The only question is ... will she be too late? Built on history, folk tradition, and witchcraft, The Swallows is a horror novel that explores a small town's connection to the spiritual world and the families that fill it.

Review Quotes

Kristen Clanton's debut novel The Swallows is an enchanting, supernatural thriller combined with an inspiring journey of self-discovery. The storyline is thoroughly captivating, yet Clanton's writing style is remarkable in its own right. She has a natural gift for metaphor and an innate talent for lyrical expression that makes this novel a true standout. Vivid imagery combined with immersive details, like the mention of a certain song on the radio or the description of a scent on the air, bring the town to life. In fact, the town's sweet, melancholy atmosphere feels like its own entity with complicated desires. As one character says, "The Swallows are a strange place, Pearl-it's near impossible to not feel the strangeness scratching at you." - Rachael Sanders Diederichs