Why Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan is the best novel I’ve read so far in 2025

Every once in a while, a book comes along that completely captivates your imagination and refuses to let you go. Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan is that book for me—the #1 best novel I’ve read so far in 2025.

Set against the stark, blistering backdrop of the Mexicali borderlands and the eerie Salton Sea, Salt Bones is a darkly lyrical story of mothers and daughters, folklore and truth, justice and horror. Malamar Veracruz has lived her whole life in El Valle, raising two daughters while carrying the pain of her sister Elena’s disappearance years ago. When another girl goes missing, Mal is thrust back into that old nightmare, haunted by visions of a horse-headed woman tied to local legend. But as Mal and her daughters uncover layer after layer of family secrets, folklore, and lies, the story reveals what women have always known: men are the destroyers, and the women who try to protect others are too often turned into monsters themselves.

Jennifer Givhan weaves magic and reality seamlessly, and this is one of the things I love most about her writing. Her previous novel, River Woman, River Demon, left me stunned, and Salt Bones is every bit as powerful. This kind of magical realism—where folklore and fantasy seep into the contemporary world—has always been one of my favorite genres. Here, it’s used to chilling effect to expose the dark underbelly of patriarchy. The horse-headed woman, La Siguanaba, becomes more than a legend; she’s a reflection of how women who fight back or protect children are demonized.

The characters are equally unforgettable. Mal, her two daughters, and even the more damaged or destructive women in the story are given depth and humanity. Mal’s mother is vicious, her sister-in-law is drowning in alcohol, and yet the novel refuses to lay all the blame on them. Instead, Givhan shows how women, even when they hurt one another, are often victims of the same systems of violence and oppression. This nuanced portrayal made me love the book even more.

Another thing I deeply appreciated was the seamless blending of English and Spanish throughout the novel. For readers who don’t speak Spanish, it might be a challenge, but for me it felt natural, musical, and immersive. I studied Spanish for two years in high school, and reading this book reminded me how much I love the language. Some words I recognized immediately; others I had to look up. But far from being an obstacle, it enriched the reading experience. Honestly, it even helped me improve my Spanish a little—and left me wanting to read more bilingual works. Lately, I’ve also been listening to Mexican American rapper Snow Tha Product, who switches fluidly between English and Spanish, and the combination of her music with Givhan’s novel has me more determined than ever to keep working toward bilingualism.

Ultimately, Salt Bones is a novel about love, survival, family, and justice. It’s horrifying in places, tender in others, and unforgettable all the way through. This book will stay with me for a long time, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Have you read Salt Bones or Jennifer Givhan’s earlier work? What did you think of her blend of magical realism and horror? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!

An advance reader copy of this book (ARC) was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Related Content

• In borderlands of truth and silence: Jennifer Givhan on writing Mexicali magical realism (CrimeReads)
• Issue Forty-Four: A conversation with Jennifer Givhan (The Adroit Journal)
• An interview with Jennifer Givhan on Salt Bones (The Headlight Review)
• The Wardrobe’s Best Dressed: “Lifeline” by Jennifer Givhan (Sundress Publications)

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