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Muntu
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Expected 12 May 26ONE MAN. TWIN SOULS. AN UNQUENCHABLE BEAST.
It is a muntu—a trapped spirit in the island of the dead. This creature of legend becomes a deadly reality when a killer strikes the heart of Sydney.
The victims seem unconnected, yet Investigating Officer Ivory Tembo is convinced the killings are anything but random.
The case soon leads Ivory into places she never imagined. In order to stop the killings and save the life of the man she loves, she must reach deep into her past, uncover secrets of her heritage, break a demon’s curse, and somehow unify two worlds.
It is a muntu—a trapped spirit in the island of the dead. This creature of legend becomes a deadly reality when a killer strikes the heart of Sydney.
The victims seem unconnected, yet Investigating Officer Ivory Tembo is convinced the killings are anything but random.
The case soon leads Ivory into places she never imagined. In order to stop the killings and save the life of the man she loves, she must reach deep into her past, uncover secrets of her heritage, break a demon’s curse, and somehow unify two worlds.
- GenresHorror
154 pages, Paperback
Expected publication May 12, 2026
135 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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May 1, 2026I received this book through NetGalley.
Muntu was a tough one for me to settle into. It felt like one bigger story told through a series of smaller connected pieces, and once that finally started to click, it made more sense. But even at only 154 pages, this book somehow still managed to give me reading whiplash.
Even so, the atmosphere stood out. The writing felt rich, mythic, and very intentional, with folklore, sacred history, and deeper meaning woven through it. You can tell this book is doing a lot.
I did struggled with the overall reading experience. The time jumps, shifting threads, and fragmented structure kept pulling me out instead of pulling me in. Mostly, I felt like I was trying to catch up to the story instead of moving through it. For such a short book, it felt dense and slippery, and I never felt fully grounded even when I could see what it was trying to do.
Overall, I respected what Muntu was aiming for. I’d recommend it to readers who like literary speculative fiction, layered folklore, and books that care more about atmosphere and structure than a straightforward plot.
Muntu was a tough one for me to settle into. It felt like one bigger story told through a series of smaller connected pieces, and once that finally started to click, it made more sense. But even at only 154 pages, this book somehow still managed to give me reading whiplash.
Even so, the atmosphere stood out. The writing felt rich, mythic, and very intentional, with folklore, sacred history, and deeper meaning woven through it. You can tell this book is doing a lot.
I did struggled with the overall reading experience. The time jumps, shifting threads, and fragmented structure kept pulling me out instead of pulling me in. Mostly, I felt like I was trying to catch up to the story instead of moving through it. For such a short book, it felt dense and slippery, and I never felt fully grounded even when I could see what it was trying to do.
Overall, I respected what Muntu was aiming for. I’d recommend it to readers who like literary speculative fiction, layered folklore, and books that care more about atmosphere and structure than a straightforward plot.
February 15, 2026
Muntu reads like a folkloric classic, with rich prose and wonderful storytelling. A cross between parallel worlds and a detective murder mystery that flows like a wave of adventure. Looking forward to the continuation of this series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The spirit of a man wronged in life returns and starts murdering seemingly unconnected people.
This reads less like a cohesive story than it does a group of short stories the author tried to bully into being one. It is disjointed and the prose borders on the purple.
Received via NetGalley.
This reads less like a cohesive story than it does a group of short stories the author tried to bully into being one. It is disjointed and the prose borders on the purple.
Received via NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews