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This House Will Never Be Warm
“Before there was light, there was a vast emptiness.
That is Mother Cold,
and we will all return to her."
"As Confederate soldier Martin Tomball faces death, freezing overnight on a battlefield, Mother Cold comes to make a deal—a deal that will curse his family for generations to come.
Now, in the winter of 2021, Texas is hit with a state-wide ice storm, leaving millions of households without power. Siblings Jasper and Autumn Tomball are going to have to find a plan to stay warm until the ice thaws—or until Mother Cold comes to collect her bargain.”
This House Will Never Be Warm is a horrific new novella from the author that brought you Hunting and Other Notes on the East Texas Cattle Mutilations
125 pages, Paperback
Published August 16, 2024
16 people are currently reading
358 people want to read
About the author
Paul Avery Tindol
8 books50 followersPaul Avery Tindol is an East Texas horror author. Paul has been writing stories since he could pick up a pencil, and obsessed with all things spooky since his babysitter showed him A Nightmare on Elm Street. His known works include Hunting Snipe: and Other Notes on the East Texas Cattle Mutilations, This House Will Never Be Warm, There's Something Upstairs, and In The Pines, as well as multiple short stories that's have also been featured on podcasts like Creepy, NoSleep, and Someone Just Like You.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
November 17, 2025
4.5 stars. Wowza, this was a helluva strong showing from Paul Avery Tindol. I remember making a musket ball on a field trip when I was very young. And the only thought I had was “Jesus Christ, this must hurt like death.” Not like our modern day bullets. Nope, we’ve been spoiled with modern ammo. Anyway, this was an absolutely fantastic horror experience. The atmosphere made me incredibly uneasy, the antagonist was dynamic and unique, and the interpersonal dynamics between our leads, Autumn and Jasper, were memorable. Oh, and who could overlook the quality of the writing. Just top notch. The portion that jumped from past to present, which I usually am very critical of, was done very well, and never broke the perfect pacing. My only, very minor, critique, was that I wanted to stay with the story a bit longer. Nothing crazy, but just a handful more pages would have further satisfied the horror hound in me. But, this still packed quite a punch for a somewhat short book. All horror fans alike should give this a look.
August 2, 2024
This story will grab you by the throat and never let go!! Seriously, I was so immersed. I also felt weird for eating ice cream while reading a story about the freezing cold.
“Before there was light, there was a vast emptiness.
That is Mother Cold, and we all will return to her. “
Enjoy this novella full of shivery death; a cursed family and a monstrous entity face off as the temperature begins to drop. 🥶
I love how the author features the area he lives in, his own experiences, and local lore/customs in his stories. This book was completely different from his other that I’ve read: “Hunting Snipe”; I’m really awed that Paul can nail down varying themes of horror with such expertise.
“Before there was light, there was a vast emptiness.
That is Mother Cold, and we all will return to her. “
Enjoy this novella full of shivery death; a cursed family and a monstrous entity face off as the temperature begins to drop. 🥶
I love how the author features the area he lives in, his own experiences, and local lore/customs in his stories. This book was completely different from his other that I’ve read: “Hunting Snipe”; I’m really awed that Paul can nail down varying themes of horror with such expertise.
July 26, 2024
I finished an ARC of This House Will Never Be Warm by Paul Avery Tindol (publishes 8/16), and in a phrase… thank hell I read this in the heat of July!
Moving from a chilling American civil war tale to a chilling modern day family drama, it’s all pinned together by a unique generational curse, a terrifying supernatural entity, and the ingenious device of a dipping thermometer in place of a ticking clock. The atmosphere and characters are perfect, and drove me to flip page after page in a rush, despite my trembling fingers.
Highly recommended, but bring blankets and firewood, even if it’s 95 outside. 🥶
Moving from a chilling American civil war tale to a chilling modern day family drama, it’s all pinned together by a unique generational curse, a terrifying supernatural entity, and the ingenious device of a dipping thermometer in place of a ticking clock. The atmosphere and characters are perfect, and drove me to flip page after page in a rush, despite my trembling fingers.
Highly recommended, but bring blankets and firewood, even if it’s 95 outside. 🥶
July 6, 2024
I gladly rate this short novella 5-Stars! I loved the title and the cover the moment I saw them. I ended up reading it in one sitting and enjoyed it from start to finish: crystal clear prose, spare yet always to the point, evoking strong reactions when the moral dilemma driving the story is made apparent; spooky supernatural scenes with creepy, urban legend vibes, though in fact the tale is influenced by Indian lore; fleshed-out characters you easily care about; and a hugely satisfying ending! The novella is brimming with a sense of peril and doom, thanks to the entity of "Mother Cold" (great name, by the way!): she's not to be trifled with, and the two adult siblings starring in the story (with an ominous, riveting Civil War backstory) have to learn this firsthand at great cost.
Generational curses are not always easy to portray in a novelette, since they demand more and more things to be explained, drowning the narrative in flashbacks and brief asides. No worries here, however, since the bare minimum provided is clearly enough for a delicious, well-balanced tale of sweet suspense and visceral horror!
Generational curses are not always easy to portray in a novelette, since they demand more and more things to be explained, drowning the narrative in flashbacks and brief asides. No worries here, however, since the bare minimum provided is clearly enough for a delicious, well-balanced tale of sweet suspense and visceral horror!
January 10, 2026
Urban Legend or not? Imagine being a descendant of confederate soldier that made a deal with Mother Cold! An entity that curses your family for generations to come. Thats exactly what’s happening to Autumn & Jasper and Mother Cold did NOT play, not to mention she’s always going to collect.
The narration in the audiobook was perfect & the narrator did a great job bringing life to those highly descriptive & intense scenes!! Fans of horror stories about Urban legends will definitely enjoy this one. This was my first read by Paul Avery Tindol but won’t be my last!
The narration in the audiobook was perfect & the narrator did a great job bringing life to those highly descriptive & intense scenes!! Fans of horror stories about Urban legends will definitely enjoy this one. This was my first read by Paul Avery Tindol but won’t be my last!
July 7, 2024
Mother Cold has come for what is owed to her, and siblings Autumn and Jasper are desperate to outrun the generational curse that haunts the descendants of Marty Tomball. But can you ever outrun the cold?
This House Will Never Be Warm is a tale of two halves, both of them atmospheric and creeping. From the blood-soaked battleground of a Civil War-era Virginia to an East Texas in the grip of an unprecedented cold snap, Paul Avery Tindol doesn't just write a story for the reader to follow; He pulls the reader into the story. He places the cold Virginia mud between your toes. He plants you in the midst of a Texas snowstorm. The pace is perfect, the twist is brutal and the cold is relentless. This author is one to watch!
This House Will Never Be Warm is a tale of two halves, both of them atmospheric and creeping. From the blood-soaked battleground of a Civil War-era Virginia to an East Texas in the grip of an unprecedented cold snap, Paul Avery Tindol doesn't just write a story for the reader to follow; He pulls the reader into the story. He places the cold Virginia mud between your toes. He plants you in the midst of a Texas snowstorm. The pace is perfect, the twist is brutal and the cold is relentless. This author is one to watch!
August 13, 2024
I received this novella as an ARC from Paul, and I’m so glad I got to read it. I fell in love with his writing when I read Hunting Snipe: and Other Notes on the East Cattle Mutilations so when I saw him post about ARCs for his upcoming novella I just HAD to read it.
This novella packs a punch in just a little over 100 pages. I finished it in less than a day, and once again, Paul wrote something so phenomenal and brilliant that I was speechless after I was done.
A family curse, siblings fighting to stay alive, and an utterly horrific entity are things you’ll find in this novella.
His writing was absolutely superb and flawless, writing a story that grips you from the beginning all the way to the very end.
I can’t say much without giving away some things, but I will say… the ending had me open mouthed and internally screaming.
I 100% recommend this novella if you want a short but compelling read 👏🏻
This novella packs a punch in just a little over 100 pages. I finished it in less than a day, and once again, Paul wrote something so phenomenal and brilliant that I was speechless after I was done.
A family curse, siblings fighting to stay alive, and an utterly horrific entity are things you’ll find in this novella.
His writing was absolutely superb and flawless, writing a story that grips you from the beginning all the way to the very end.
I can’t say much without giving away some things, but I will say… the ending had me open mouthed and internally screaming.
I 100% recommend this novella if you want a short but compelling read 👏🏻
August 14, 2024
A chilling tale.
I'm not sure what I expected when I started this book, but what I got wasn't that. I got so much more.
Synopsis:
The story opens Texas with Jasper waking up from a dream and setting an eery stage for what follows. And what follows is a time jump back to the Civil War where we meet Marty Tomball, a confederate soldier from Texas, and Jasper's ancestor. And it's there that we learn how one person's decision can impact the lives of every generation to come.
Once we return to the present day, Tindol holds no punches, and it barely lets you come up for air as you watch the terrifying events unfold for Jasper and his sister Autumn, as the temperatures drop and Jasper's house grows colder and colder by the minute. Because once Mother Cold comes for you, you can't escape.
Review:
The number of times I had to set this book down and walk away was unprecedented, whether it be from frustration at a characters decision or because I needed time to process what I just read, or because Mother Cold creeped me out. But I was so deeply invested that I found myself having an emotional connection to these characters that I haven't experienced in a while. And had I not been reading it on my phone, I may have thrown the book a few times in frustration.
And I'm not sure what was more terrifying - Mother Cold, herself, or Jasper's downward spiral as he seemed to further unravel bit by bit. Jasper, whose marriage has recently fallen apart, seems to be slowly unraveling as the story progresses. The only one of the two siblings who believes the generational curse, he is convinced Mother Cold is coming for him and Autumn. And the more apparent that becomes, the more manic Jasper gets.
Mother Cold is absolutely terrifying in every way, and I am here for every minute of it. From the first time we meet her till the last time we see her, I want more of her. Whether she is a figment of Tindol's imagination, concocted souly for this novel, or based in folklore, she makes me want to do a deep dive and learn more about her. I LOVE a scary entity that does this for me. The last one I felt this viscerally about was in Cursed, by Leigh Kenney. The way Tindol describes her works to create a vivid picture in the mind's eye that is both enthralling and terrifying. The final scene we see Mother Cold in is absolutely terrifying.
Folk horror is my absolute favorite subgenre of horror. This is folk horror at its finest. The unrelenting entity, the dark side of nature, a story passed down through the generations.
A Little Anectdote:
And, ironically, during my reading of this story, some peculiar things happened, things that made me question whether Mother Cold was coming for me in this Tennessee sumer heat. LOL. While reading this story, we had our AC services, so our house naturally got colder as a result, but then the hot water heater went out, resulting in ice-cold showers for a few days. I also injured my knee, where I had to apply (you guessed it) ice to help reduce swelling. The timing of these events was comically ironic given my reading material.
I'm not sure what I expected when I started this book, but what I got wasn't that. I got so much more.
Synopsis:
The story opens Texas with Jasper waking up from a dream and setting an eery stage for what follows. And what follows is a time jump back to the Civil War where we meet Marty Tomball, a confederate soldier from Texas, and Jasper's ancestor. And it's there that we learn how one person's decision can impact the lives of every generation to come.
Once we return to the present day, Tindol holds no punches, and it barely lets you come up for air as you watch the terrifying events unfold for Jasper and his sister Autumn, as the temperatures drop and Jasper's house grows colder and colder by the minute. Because once Mother Cold comes for you, you can't escape.
Review:
The number of times I had to set this book down and walk away was unprecedented, whether it be from frustration at a characters decision or because I needed time to process what I just read, or because Mother Cold creeped me out. But I was so deeply invested that I found myself having an emotional connection to these characters that I haven't experienced in a while. And had I not been reading it on my phone, I may have thrown the book a few times in frustration.
And I'm not sure what was more terrifying - Mother Cold, herself, or Jasper's downward spiral as he seemed to further unravel bit by bit. Jasper, whose marriage has recently fallen apart, seems to be slowly unraveling as the story progresses. The only one of the two siblings who believes the generational curse, he is convinced Mother Cold is coming for him and Autumn. And the more apparent that becomes, the more manic Jasper gets.
Mother Cold is absolutely terrifying in every way, and I am here for every minute of it. From the first time we meet her till the last time we see her, I want more of her. Whether she is a figment of Tindol's imagination, concocted souly for this novel, or based in folklore, she makes me want to do a deep dive and learn more about her. I LOVE a scary entity that does this for me. The last one I felt this viscerally about was in Cursed, by Leigh Kenney. The way Tindol describes her works to create a vivid picture in the mind's eye that is both enthralling and terrifying. The final scene we see Mother Cold in is absolutely terrifying.
Folk horror is my absolute favorite subgenre of horror. This is folk horror at its finest. The unrelenting entity, the dark side of nature, a story passed down through the generations.
A Little Anectdote:
And, ironically, during my reading of this story, some peculiar things happened, things that made me question whether Mother Cold was coming for me in this Tennessee sumer heat. LOL. While reading this story, we had our AC services, so our house naturally got colder as a result, but then the hot water heater went out, resulting in ice-cold showers for a few days. I also injured my knee, where I had to apply (you guessed it) ice to help reduce swelling. The timing of these events was comically ironic given my reading material.
July 9, 2024
From the title to the cover art to the synopsis, I felt instantly drawn to This House Will Never Be Warm, and I was not disappointed!
Beginning on the battlefields during the Civil War, where one man's need for survival causes him to make a choice that curses his family line for generations, Paul Avery Tindol instantly draws you in. Leading you, generations later, to two siblings, one who believes and one who isn't sure, but ultimately both have to fight to survive the night in a very rare Texas cold snap against a force almost impossible to fight. How do you fight the ultimate cold?
Mother Cold was incredibly described, and I could almost feel the chill on the back of my neck when she was around. There were unexpected turns that left me with an incredible need to know what choices would be made and what would happen next!
Living in Maine, a state known for seriously low temperatures and harsh Winters, this book will forever leave me with a voice in the back of my mind asking if there there could be more out there with me in the cold.
I would absolutely recommend reading this book, and I will definitely be looking for more from this incredible author.
Beginning on the battlefields during the Civil War, where one man's need for survival causes him to make a choice that curses his family line for generations, Paul Avery Tindol instantly draws you in. Leading you, generations later, to two siblings, one who believes and one who isn't sure, but ultimately both have to fight to survive the night in a very rare Texas cold snap against a force almost impossible to fight. How do you fight the ultimate cold?
Mother Cold was incredibly described, and I could almost feel the chill on the back of my neck when she was around. There were unexpected turns that left me with an incredible need to know what choices would be made and what would happen next!
Living in Maine, a state known for seriously low temperatures and harsh Winters, this book will forever leave me with a voice in the back of my mind asking if there there could be more out there with me in the cold.
I would absolutely recommend reading this book, and I will definitely be looking for more from this incredible author.
March 15, 2025
When I announced this was my next read, the author told me to grab a blanket. All I can say is that he was correct in more ways than one. The story's 'cold' nature gave me flashbacks to my days when I lived in New York City and dealt with the freezing cold.
The story itself does a wonderful job of connecting the events of the Civil War to the present. I could tell the author knew the lore pretty well. He also features where he resides, which gives this story its own flavor. The story has the classic cursed family trope with a twist, a house that never gets warm no matter how much a person tries to warm it up. For a novella, I thought the author did a good job explaining the curse in such a short amount of time.
Without spoiling the story... All I can say is that I kind of felt bad for Jasper. Then again, it's next to impossible to outrun the cold. If you enjoy supernatural tales with a twist, consider giving this one a read!
The story itself does a wonderful job of connecting the events of the Civil War to the present. I could tell the author knew the lore pretty well. He also features where he resides, which gives this story its own flavor. The story has the classic cursed family trope with a twist, a house that never gets warm no matter how much a person tries to warm it up. For a novella, I thought the author did a good job explaining the curse in such a short amount of time.
Without spoiling the story... All I can say is that I kind of felt bad for Jasper. Then again, it's next to impossible to outrun the cold. If you enjoy supernatural tales with a twist, consider giving this one a read!
December 31, 2024
A family curse threatens Jasper’s bloodline, demanding that one of every generation shall be claimed by Mother Cold. When Jasper and his siter, Autumn, find themselves trapped in an ice storm in a home that is impossible to warm, who will Mother Cold claim for her own?
This was my first time reading one of Tindol’s works, but it definitely won’t be my last. I loved the writing style. It was easy to imagine Jasper and Autumn’s struggles, both internally and the external struggle to stay warm. Some of the best stories are those that have a relatable villain. As someone who grew up in a place with cold winters, I know exactly how hard a tough winter can be.
Except, I found myself debating whether the real villain was Mother Cold or if it was Jasper. His downward spiral added a layer of suspense to an already suspenseful tale.
This was my first time reading one of Tindol’s works, but it definitely won’t be my last. I loved the writing style. It was easy to imagine Jasper and Autumn’s struggles, both internally and the external struggle to stay warm. Some of the best stories are those that have a relatable villain. As someone who grew up in a place with cold winters, I know exactly how hard a tough winter can be.
Except, I found myself debating whether the real villain was Mother Cold or if it was Jasper. His downward spiral added a layer of suspense to an already suspenseful tale.
August 1, 2024
Another fantastic read from Paul Avery Tindol!
This is a super unique and interesting short story. This book has a good amount of creep, intensity and some horror.
It begins during the Civil War time, with a soldier who makes a deal with a supernatural & scary force, “Mother Cold”, in order to survive and make it home. Then the story moves into present day where this curse from long ago, has been passed down in the generations and continues on. The rest of the story focuses on family drama, this horrible curse, and freezing weather conditions.
I loved the shocking ending and was at the edge of my chair the entire suspenseful story!
Thank you to Paul Avery Tindol for an arc copy of this amazing book!
This is a super unique and interesting short story. This book has a good amount of creep, intensity and some horror.
It begins during the Civil War time, with a soldier who makes a deal with a supernatural & scary force, “Mother Cold”, in order to survive and make it home. Then the story moves into present day where this curse from long ago, has been passed down in the generations and continues on. The rest of the story focuses on family drama, this horrible curse, and freezing weather conditions.
I loved the shocking ending and was at the edge of my chair the entire suspenseful story!
Thank you to Paul Avery Tindol for an arc copy of this amazing book!
April 7, 2025
I was sucked in from chapter 1!
The way Paul introduced the current family members, then switched to the civil war era ancestor to give us the back story of the curse was great! I enjoy his writing style, and now I need to read the rest of his books!
Jasper is a piece of shit… and I’m quite happy he gets what he deserves! And I was rooting for mama cold! 😂
Mother Cold is giving not deer/skinwalker/Queen Mab vibes and I love it! Reading the author notes the skinwalker concept was intentional, but I don’t think he meant to give her Queen Mab vibes, that’s just my brain making that connection, but it also fits as the queen of the winter fae… (the deal making and the freezing people).
The way Paul introduced the current family members, then switched to the civil war era ancestor to give us the back story of the curse was great! I enjoy his writing style, and now I need to read the rest of his books!
Jasper is a piece of shit… and I’m quite happy he gets what he deserves! And I was rooting for mama cold! 😂
Mother Cold is giving not deer/skinwalker/Queen Mab vibes and I love it! Reading the author notes the skinwalker concept was intentional, but I don’t think he meant to give her Queen Mab vibes, that’s just my brain making that connection, but it also fits as the queen of the winter fae… (the deal making and the freezing people).
July 24, 2024
Well this is the first time I have read something that actually made me feel physically cold. The way this author captures the surrounding environment is really well done. Once I started this novella I couldn't stop reading until it was finished. Really well written and the pacing is spot on. I even found myself yelling at a character at one point. Definitely worth a read.
November 24, 2024
This House Will Never Be Warm is creepy, fast paced and hard to put down! Never thought I'd be so grateful for my blankets while I cozied up to read this chilling short story. I enjoyed the ancestor's civil war tale and how it really tied everything together in the end. What a turn of events! Loved this one!
February 16, 2025
“Before there was light… there was a vast, cold emptiness.
That is Mother Cold.”
I loved this book so much. Chills (pardon the pun) throughout. A fine balance of folklore, trauma, and a family curse topped off with a creature that will make your bones shiver. This story is atmospheric to the point I felt trapped and cold reading it. Tindol does a masterful job of keeping the tension high while creating a horrible, beautiful monster. And the ending? Satisfying and full of dread.
That is Mother Cold.”
I loved this book so much. Chills (pardon the pun) throughout. A fine balance of folklore, trauma, and a family curse topped off with a creature that will make your bones shiver. This story is atmospheric to the point I felt trapped and cold reading it. Tindol does a masterful job of keeping the tension high while creating a horrible, beautiful monster. And the ending? Satisfying and full of dread.
July 25, 2024
Paul Tindol has done it again!!! After loving his book hunting snipe so much I couldn’t wait to get my hands on his newest novella!!! This one got DARK!!! And the feeling of isolation and helplessness poured out of the pages!! He is quickly becoming a new favorite !!!
July 31, 2024
Well written story about Mother Cold and what a person will endure if she helps. We meet Jasper and Autumn, siblings from a cursed family. They attempt to ride out the winter storm but Mother has a different idea.
There wasn't much violence or gore but was quite suspenseful
There wasn't much violence or gore but was quite suspenseful
January 9, 2026
A simple and short little book. Really cool idea to it but not really much story. It read like:
This happened… Then this happened… The end.
Definitely one of those novels that would have benefited from being longer because before I could get to know the characters the novel was over.
This happened… Then this happened… The end.
Definitely one of those novels that would have benefited from being longer because before I could get to know the characters the novel was over.
July 27, 2024
Just read ARC of this novella. Definite 5-star for me. Read it in one sitting and felt cold the whole time! Loved it!
December 16, 2024
This little book really packs a punch! It has all those creepy winter vibes that I am craving this time of year! I love a fast paced story that I can start and finish on a lazy winter afternoon!
December 29, 2024
What a creepy, fun novella! As someone who lived through the Texas ice storms and the ensuing power grid failure that killed hundreds of people, this story hit really close to home. I loved that Tindol wove together a story of a real-life catastrophe, folklore, and history. I could not put it down and I can’t wait to catch up on his other works!
August 9, 2025
It was a bit predictable but the writing was SO GOOD! Super scary and creepy. 100% worth the read
January 2, 2026
Wintry horror
Well, this was not the best choice as it is freezing outside right now. Thanks to the author, I am even colder. Going to.check the thermostat.
Well, this was not the best choice as it is freezing outside right now. Thanks to the author, I am even colder. Going to.check the thermostat.
January 16, 2025
This one was just ok for me. I like the set up but had a hard time connecting with the characters and feeling invested in the story.
August 19, 2024
4.5/5 stars
Sometimes you think you're serving mother 💁♀️.... When in actuality you're serving Mother Cold :(
This is a short story that takes place in both the Civil War and during the 2021 Texas winter storm. It follows a family that has been plagued by a curse that has been following them for generations.
This story did so much so well in such a short amount of time. It has amazing settings, characters you both love and hate, a freaking scary monster, moral delimmas, and a fast paced story.
I unfortunately had to live through the Texas smowmageddon. That experience definitely added to my terror because it was so horrific. I feel like Tindol did a great job at capturing that fear so many of us were feeling.
Man did I feel strongly about some of the characters in this!!!! But the way it is all tied together is just so perfect. It's the sins of our fathers.....
If you like horror I truly cannot recommend this book enough!
Sometimes you think you're serving mother 💁♀️.... When in actuality you're serving Mother Cold :(
This is a short story that takes place in both the Civil War and during the 2021 Texas winter storm. It follows a family that has been plagued by a curse that has been following them for generations.
This story did so much so well in such a short amount of time. It has amazing settings, characters you both love and hate, a freaking scary monster, moral delimmas, and a fast paced story.
I unfortunately had to live through the Texas smowmageddon. That experience definitely added to my terror because it was so horrific. I feel like Tindol did a great job at capturing that fear so many of us were feeling.
Man did I feel strongly about some of the characters in this!!!! But the way it is all tied together is just so perfect. It's the sins of our fathers.....
If you like horror I truly cannot recommend this book enough!
August 9, 2024
Mother Cold has chilled me to my core!
This House Will Never Be Warm was a thrill ride from start to finish. This story is set across a couple of generations. Starting in the late 1800s, we are introduced to Martin as we get to watch him try to survive in the Civil War. However, when a supernatural threat makes itself known, Martin changes the life course of himself and his future generations.
This starting element had me HOOKED! I found myself pulled within these pages. However, the last scene in Part 1 had me WINCING. You won't see it coming and I had to read this deep under my blankets.
After setting in motion this course-altering moment, it flashes forward to 2021. Siblings Jasper and Autumn are being snowed. After the cliff-hanging end to Part 1, I was biting my nails as I devoured the next part. As readers, you know what is coming, and it is like a train crash. You aren't able to look away and much more due to the great writing talents of Paul Avery Tindol, you cannot stop reading.
I enjoyed this and I think readers are going to love this!!
This House Will Never Be Warm was a thrill ride from start to finish. This story is set across a couple of generations. Starting in the late 1800s, we are introduced to Martin as we get to watch him try to survive in the Civil War. However, when a supernatural threat makes itself known, Martin changes the life course of himself and his future generations.
This starting element had me HOOKED! I found myself pulled within these pages. However, the last scene in Part 1 had me WINCING. You won't see it coming and I had to read this deep under my blankets.
After setting in motion this course-altering moment, it flashes forward to 2021. Siblings Jasper and Autumn are being snowed. After the cliff-hanging end to Part 1, I was biting my nails as I devoured the next part. As readers, you know what is coming, and it is like a train crash. You aren't able to look away and much more due to the great writing talents of Paul Avery Tindol, you cannot stop reading.
I enjoyed this and I think readers are going to love this!!
August 10, 2024
Holy crap, first I really like the cover.
It really really puts you in the visual for the book itself.
There's just something visually pleasing for me and this cover, it draws the eye well.
There's something about cold weather horror that is sinister.
Can't just escape into the outside, it's freezing, it's not just making a run for it you gotta surive in that too.
Winter storms isolate you, plus no power, sinister evil and the horrors of a family curse. Everything is always darker in the cold.
Whether the family curse is real or not I think we can all sympathize with some form of a family curse in our own lives, whether someone made a deal with the devil or just metaphorically a shit family member that plagues everyone else with their own brand of fuckery, we've all felt that dread of having to confront it.
This was just a solid read for me, will be checking out their other stuff.
It really really puts you in the visual for the book itself.
There's just something visually pleasing for me and this cover, it draws the eye well.
There's something about cold weather horror that is sinister.
Can't just escape into the outside, it's freezing, it's not just making a run for it you gotta surive in that too.
Winter storms isolate you, plus no power, sinister evil and the horrors of a family curse. Everything is always darker in the cold.
Whether the family curse is real or not I think we can all sympathize with some form of a family curse in our own lives, whether someone made a deal with the devil or just metaphorically a shit family member that plagues everyone else with their own brand of fuckery, we've all felt that dread of having to confront it.
This was just a solid read for me, will be checking out their other stuff.
October 30, 2024
A perfect novella to read as we enter the winter months.
During the American Civil War, a soldier faces freezing to death. Desperate to survive and return to his young family, he makes a deal with a mysterious entity that will save him - but will curse future generations of his bloodline. Forward to 2021 and siblings Jasper and Autumn are stuck in a Texas-sized winter snowstorm, trying to stay warm and safe, not knowing that is time for them to pay their piece of the promised bargain.
I thought this was an incredibly effective novella, descriptive enough to make you feel a tingling in your extremities as you read about the freezing cold, and utilising the entity at the centre of the story to perfection. Mother Cold is an excellent invention, drawing from Native American folklore such as a Navajo skinwalker, but melded with the author's own unique ideas. She gave me a similar feeling to the one I had when beginning to understand the antagonist in The Only Good Indians, which if you know me you recognise quite how high that praise is. Tindol also does a fantastic job of taking the concept of a multi-generational curse, by its nature something large and sprawling, and conveying it effectively in a short-form read - no mean feat.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a piece of bite-sized winter horror, with my only complaint being that I would have loved more, whether delving into other effected generations, or even more backstory of the original deal. I eagerly anticipate reading more from the author.
I listened to the audiobook version, capably narrated by Nate DuFort, who did an excellent job bringing this chilling story to life. Clocking in at almost exactly 2 hours, this may not be one for those looking for a lengthy story to sink their teeth into, but I hope this doesn't stop anyone interested in giving it a chance. The short length of the story belies its depth, there are multiple chills and some surprisingly intricate lore squeezed into this book.
During the American Civil War, a soldier faces freezing to death. Desperate to survive and return to his young family, he makes a deal with a mysterious entity that will save him - but will curse future generations of his bloodline. Forward to 2021 and siblings Jasper and Autumn are stuck in a Texas-sized winter snowstorm, trying to stay warm and safe, not knowing that is time for them to pay their piece of the promised bargain.
I thought this was an incredibly effective novella, descriptive enough to make you feel a tingling in your extremities as you read about the freezing cold, and utilising the entity at the centre of the story to perfection. Mother Cold is an excellent invention, drawing from Native American folklore such as a Navajo skinwalker, but melded with the author's own unique ideas. She gave me a similar feeling to the one I had when beginning to understand the antagonist in The Only Good Indians, which if you know me you recognise quite how high that praise is. Tindol also does a fantastic job of taking the concept of a multi-generational curse, by its nature something large and sprawling, and conveying it effectively in a short-form read - no mean feat.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a piece of bite-sized winter horror, with my only complaint being that I would have loved more, whether delving into other effected generations, or even more backstory of the original deal. I eagerly anticipate reading more from the author.
I listened to the audiobook version, capably narrated by Nate DuFort, who did an excellent job bringing this chilling story to life. Clocking in at almost exactly 2 hours, this may not be one for those looking for a lengthy story to sink their teeth into, but I hope this doesn't stop anyone interested in giving it a chance. The short length of the story belies its depth, there are multiple chills and some surprisingly intricate lore squeezed into this book.
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