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Blood Vintage: A Folk Horror Novel
The perfect wine requires the darkest sacrifice.
In the rolling hills of Somerset, England, an ancient evil ripens alongside the grapes of Standing Stone Cellars…
Rebecca never expected her architecture career to lead to the secluded rural village of Winbridge Hollow. But after a violent clash with eco-activists, she flees the chaos of London, desperate for a new start.
She seeks refuge at Standing Stone Cellars, a vineyard renowned for its award-winning wines and mysterious history, nestled in the shadow of ancient oaks and standing stones that have watched over the land for millennia.
But this vineyard is no sanctuary.
From the primal fires of Beltane to the chilling shadow of Samhain, Rebecca finds herself ensnared in an ancient cycle of sacrifice and rebirth. The disappearance of her fellow workers amidst evidence of blood rites forces her to confront a horrifying truth: Standing Stone’s exceptional vintage is nourished by more than just sunlight and soil.
As the veil between worlds grows thin, Rebecca must make an impossible choice: embrace the dark legacy of the vineyard and secure her place among its guardians, or risk becoming the next offering to the insatiable Horned God that demands his due.
Blood Vintage is an atmospheric descent into folk horror, where the line between sacred and profane blurs with each sip of wine.
Lose yourself in a world where pagan rituals and modern ambitions collide, and discover the terrible price of belonging in a place where the very earth demands blood.
In the rolling hills of Somerset, England, an ancient evil ripens alongside the grapes of Standing Stone Cellars…
Rebecca never expected her architecture career to lead to the secluded rural village of Winbridge Hollow. But after a violent clash with eco-activists, she flees the chaos of London, desperate for a new start.
She seeks refuge at Standing Stone Cellars, a vineyard renowned for its award-winning wines and mysterious history, nestled in the shadow of ancient oaks and standing stones that have watched over the land for millennia.
But this vineyard is no sanctuary.
From the primal fires of Beltane to the chilling shadow of Samhain, Rebecca finds herself ensnared in an ancient cycle of sacrifice and rebirth. The disappearance of her fellow workers amidst evidence of blood rites forces her to confront a horrifying truth: Standing Stone’s exceptional vintage is nourished by more than just sunlight and soil.
As the veil between worlds grows thin, Rebecca must make an impossible choice: embrace the dark legacy of the vineyard and secure her place among its guardians, or risk becoming the next offering to the insatiable Horned God that demands his due.
Blood Vintage is an atmospheric descent into folk horror, where the line between sacred and profane blurs with each sip of wine.
Lose yourself in a world where pagan rituals and modern ambitions collide, and discover the terrible price of belonging in a place where the very earth demands blood.
Hardcover
Published October 15, 2024
3 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
J.F. Penn
56 books2,233 followersI'm the award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, crime, dark fantasy, horror, short stories, and travel memoir.
Reading order: https://jfpennbooks.com/pages/reading...
The fast-paced ARKANE thrillers weave together historical artifacts, global locations, a kick-ass protagonist and a hint of the supernatural. Described by readers as "Dan Brown meets Lara Croft."
The Brooke & Daniel Crime Thriller Series features British detective Jamie Brooke alongside museum researcher Blake Daniel, as they solve dark crimes around London.
The Mapwalker fantasy adventure trilogy is set between Bath, England and the Borderlands in a split world fantasy where Sienna and the Mapwalker team travel through maps to adventure ...
A Thousand Fiendish Angels is a collection of 3 short stories bound together by a book of human skin. Inspired by Dante's Inferno.
You can buy books directly from me https://jfpennbooks.com/
I have a blog and podcast at http://www.BooksAndTravel.page
I'm passionate about writing and I love reading. My favorite authors include James Rollins, Jonathan Maberry, John Connolly, Daniel Silva, and I also read a lot of travel books.
Reading order: https://jfpennbooks.com/pages/reading...
The fast-paced ARKANE thrillers weave together historical artifacts, global locations, a kick-ass protagonist and a hint of the supernatural. Described by readers as "Dan Brown meets Lara Croft."
The Brooke & Daniel Crime Thriller Series features British detective Jamie Brooke alongside museum researcher Blake Daniel, as they solve dark crimes around London.
The Mapwalker fantasy adventure trilogy is set between Bath, England and the Borderlands in a split world fantasy where Sienna and the Mapwalker team travel through maps to adventure ...
A Thousand Fiendish Angels is a collection of 3 short stories bound together by a book of human skin. Inspired by Dante's Inferno.
You can buy books directly from me https://jfpennbooks.com/
I have a blog and podcast at http://www.BooksAndTravel.page
I'm passionate about writing and I love reading. My favorite authors include James Rollins, Jonathan Maberry, John Connolly, Daniel Silva, and I also read a lot of travel books.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 26, 2025
I don’t normally read horror, but this is a nerve-tingling folk-horror novel that reads more like a thriller, with just a hint of the supernatural. The atmosphere is rich, and the scene-setting so vivid you can almost smell grapes on a windswept vineyard in southern England.
November 5, 2025
Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️(when there's references to Bacchus, there's gonna be heat)
Burn 🔥
With Rebecca having to escape from London because of how people were harassing her because she was the one to draft the homes for lower income families. She tried to keep more green areas, but the managers/owners above her didn't want to allow that. They wanted to use every square metre possible to start building. She saw someone in the crowd at one point who looked like her missing sister and she'd been seearching, but her sister's case had been cold for a while.
Because she'd been doxxed by the protesters and no longer felt safe, she left London and went to Winbridge Hollow, met a nice old lady (who I just couldn't help but give her the voice of Angela Lansbury) I couldn't help but think I probably would've just stayed in that village... seemed so comfy.
At the bus stop, she meets the rest of her crew of sorts. Ben who was going to be the mainenance engineer, Asha who was there to help with marketing strategies, Helen who was a botanist, and Liam. Isabelle picks everyone up st the bus stop and starts the long drive to the vineyard. Isabelle talking on the bus had me wishing I was there, to be honest. She pointed out which neighbor had the best eggs, talked about who brought venison to eat. Going farther and farther into the land, then property losing cell service. When they got to the vineyard they met Nate, the vineyard manager. I thought Helen was reall cute asking questions about why they followed the lunar calendar for planting and harvesting.
Once in the office, Asha is shown her station and Rebecca notices a book Viticulture and the Old Ways: A Grimoire. Nate talks about the inner most part of the vineyard and that she'd only allowed in during Samhain, if she makes it that far. which felt extremely ominous. Then later Rebecca and Isebelle have a discussion about the last architect:
Beltane May Day - half way between Vernal Equinox and Summer Solstice
During the celebration, Liam sees Rebecca leaving and follows her to make sure she gets home safely. There was a god at Standing Stone, but not the God Liam once knew. Liam heard a couple having sex in the vinyard and started walking towards the noise. Nate and a woman he didn't know:
When Liam gave in, the vines seemed to come to life, holding him in place. He saw The Horned God before he died.
Helen found Monkshood, Deadly Nightshade (Belladonna) Hemlock and Henbane and started pulling them up, thinking they were going to hurt someone if ingested. Nate practically goes nuclear on her and she runs off crying. She goes and talks to Asha for a while, talking about what had happened and looking at Asha's designs before leaving. Nate approaches her and apologizes for his actions earlier, giving her a glass of wine.
Veraison
Asha planned a huge party to show off the winery and all the wines made there. Charcerterie and vegetable platters, roast pigs... the whole party seemed to pay respect to Bacchus, the Roman god of wine.
When Asha tried to escape, she became the next victim, the true sacrifice... the next to keep the vinyard alive.
Rebecca found a key that went to the part of the vinyard she wasn't supposed to be in. When dshe went into the wine cellar, she found cabinets which seemed to be mementos left behind by different people... but, she found, Liam's cross pendant, a page from Helen's botanical notebook, and Asha's pen. She ran back to the year her sister disappeared and found a butterfly clip, a box with a bible verse and her sister's pendant
Samhain Halloween
All but Ben tasted the wine during Samhain, The Horned God's Share, then Ben was almost the final sacrifice. Isabelle called Rebecca to come to the front to sacrifice Ben, she was handing the torch, literally and figuratively to Rebecca to be the next caretaker of the vineyard. She took the blade from Isabelle and cut Ben free, in that moment she seemed to hear her sister Grace. She freed Ben and knocked over a barrel that had a torch, causing the whole vineyard to be engulfed in flames. Ben and Rebecca were the only ones to escape.
Spice 🌶️🌶️(when there's references to Bacchus, there's gonna be heat)
Burn 🔥
With Rebecca having to escape from London because of how people were harassing her because she was the one to draft the homes for lower income families. She tried to keep more green areas, but the managers/owners above her didn't want to allow that. They wanted to use every square metre possible to start building. She saw someone in the crowd at one point who looked like her missing sister and she'd been seearching, but her sister's case had been cold for a while.
Because she'd been doxxed by the protesters and no longer felt safe, she left London and went to Winbridge Hollow, met a nice old lady (who I just couldn't help but give her the voice of Angela Lansbury) I couldn't help but think I probably would've just stayed in that village... seemed so comfy.
At the bus stop, she meets the rest of her crew of sorts. Ben who was going to be the mainenance engineer, Asha who was there to help with marketing strategies, Helen who was a botanist, and Liam. Isabelle picks everyone up st the bus stop and starts the long drive to the vineyard. Isabelle talking on the bus had me wishing I was there, to be honest. She pointed out which neighbor had the best eggs, talked about who brought venison to eat. Going farther and farther into the land, then property losing cell service. When they got to the vineyard they met Nate, the vineyard manager. I thought Helen was reall cute asking questions about why they followed the lunar calendar for planting and harvesting.
Once in the office, Asha is shown her station and Rebecca notices a book Viticulture and the Old Ways: A Grimoire. Nate talks about the inner most part of the vineyard and that she'd only allowed in during Samhain, if she makes it that far. which felt extremely ominous. Then later Rebecca and Isebelle have a discussion about the last architect:
The architect didn't share my vision. He was bound by conventional thinking, too afraid to commune with the land and understand our customs. He served the vines in other ways, though, it must be.
Beltane May Day - half way between Vernal Equinox and Summer Solstice
The buds break with spring's warmth, but true awakening requires sacrefice. At Beltane, bury a still bloody heart beneath the rootstock, and the roots will grow strong enough to strangle the sun.
During the celebration, Liam sees Rebecca leaving and follows her to make sure she gets home safely. There was a god at Standing Stone, but not the God Liam once knew. Liam heard a couple having sex in the vinyard and started walking towards the noise. Nate and a woman he didn't know:
Drink that and join us. Tonight we give our pleasure to fertilise the land.
When Liam gave in, the vines seemed to come to life, holding him in place. He saw The Horned God before he died.
Helen found Monkshood, Deadly Nightshade (Belladonna) Hemlock and Henbane and started pulling them up, thinking they were going to hurt someone if ingested. Nate practically goes nuclear on her and she runs off crying. She goes and talks to Asha for a while, talking about what had happened and looking at Asha's designs before leaving. Nate approaches her and apologizes for his actions earlier, giving her a glass of wine.
Isabelle: Shh... it's alright, now, you can rest. The plants will be cared for after you're gone. We'll bury you under the poisonous plants, and your body will nurture their growth. As it must be.
Veraison
Veraison brings colour to the grapes and vitality to the land.
But true ripeness, the vine must taste like iron.
At Lammas, mix blood with the soil, snd let the roots drink.
Asha planned a huge party to show off the winery and all the wines made there. Charcerterie and vegetable platters, roast pigs... the whole party seemed to pay respect to Bacchus, the Roman god of wine.
The Horned God's Share is more than just wine. It is liquid history, the essence of this land and those who live and work on it distilled into drops of the divine. You will taste heaven, my friends, and then you have the rest of the night to take yourself there.
Oh, Horned One, accept our sacrifice.
When Asha tried to escape, she became the next victim, the true sacrifice... the next to keep the vinyard alive.
Rebecca found a key that went to the part of the vinyard she wasn't supposed to be in. When dshe went into the wine cellar, she found cabinets which seemed to be mementos left behind by different people... but, she found, Liam's cross pendant, a page from Helen's botanical notebook, and Asha's pen. She ran back to the year her sister disappeared and found a butterfly clip, a box with a bible verse and her sister's pendant
Samhain Halloween
The last grape harvest belongs to The Horned One.
At Samhain, press it not into wine, but into the earth with a drop of fresh blood.
All but Ben tasted the wine during Samhain, The Horned God's Share, then Ben was almost the final sacrifice. Isabelle called Rebecca to come to the front to sacrifice Ben, she was handing the torch, literally and figuratively to Rebecca to be the next caretaker of the vineyard. She took the blade from Isabelle and cut Ben free, in that moment she seemed to hear her sister Grace. She freed Ben and knocked over a barrel that had a torch, causing the whole vineyard to be engulfed in flames. Ben and Rebecca were the only ones to escape.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2025
Creepy, atmospheric, and dripping with dread, Blood Vintage takes a seemingly idyllic British vineyard and transforms it into the perfect stage for folk horror. Even as our heroine Rebecca arrives at the village that is supposed to be a refuge, the tension builds slowly but relentlessly, until you can practically feel the ancient stones pressing in and the vines whispering their secrets.
The premise is irresistible: a vineyard flourishing under the shadow of an ancient evil, where sacrifice feeds both soil and god. I’m not a wine drinker and know next to nothing about viticulture, but the detail here made the setting feel utterly immersive—and at times claustrophobic. With no internet or cell service, there’s no easy escape from the dark legacy woven into the land.
Rebecca is sympathetic, but I often found myself several steps ahead of her. More than once I wanted to shout, “You have all the pieces, woman! Put the puzzle together!” There was a little bit of the classic too stupid to live horror trope creeping in. Still, her vulnerability is part of what keeps the dread high, because J.F. Penn is not afraid to go dark.
Fans of The Wicker Man will catch the nods and appreciate the way the story blends modern ambition with ancient ritual. Fertility rites, hedonistic revels, and shadowy sacrifices remind us that ancient British folklore has plenty of elements that can be mined for horror. Set against a quintessentially English village backdrop, it’s the kind of tale that ensures I’ll never look at Morris dancers the same way again.
Blood Vintage is a chilling tale that lingers long after the final page—heady, unsettling, and unforgettable.
The premise is irresistible: a vineyard flourishing under the shadow of an ancient evil, where sacrifice feeds both soil and god. I’m not a wine drinker and know next to nothing about viticulture, but the detail here made the setting feel utterly immersive—and at times claustrophobic. With no internet or cell service, there’s no easy escape from the dark legacy woven into the land.
Rebecca is sympathetic, but I often found myself several steps ahead of her. More than once I wanted to shout, “You have all the pieces, woman! Put the puzzle together!” There was a little bit of the classic too stupid to live horror trope creeping in. Still, her vulnerability is part of what keeps the dread high, because J.F. Penn is not afraid to go dark.
Fans of The Wicker Man will catch the nods and appreciate the way the story blends modern ambition with ancient ritual. Fertility rites, hedonistic revels, and shadowy sacrifices remind us that ancient British folklore has plenty of elements that can be mined for horror. Set against a quintessentially English village backdrop, it’s the kind of tale that ensures I’ll never look at Morris dancers the same way again.
Blood Vintage is a chilling tale that lingers long after the final page—heady, unsettling, and unforgettable.
December 1, 2025
Blood Vintage is a potent, five-star triumph that seamlessly blends rigorous research with ancient, primal horror. Penn grounds the dread in genuine realism, resulting in a profoundly unsettling and modern folk horror masterpiece.
Set within an isolated English vineyard, the novel’s realism is instantly compelling. Penn’s research into viticulture and the cyclical nature of the harvest provides a grounded foundation for the terror. This authenticity makes the resulting sinister atmosphere—the sense that the land itself is watching and demanding tribute—all the more palpable. The protagonist, Rebecca, becomes convincingly tangled in the community’s ancient, bloody past, a struggle rooted believably in the soil.
The pacing is masterful. Penn builds tension by layering local legends beneath the reality of modern vineyard operations. The transition from psychological thriller to full-blown supernatural folk horror is flawless. By blending the mundane specifics of harvest and fermentation with the truly horrific reality of ancient sacrifices, Penn creates an intelligent, primal, and unforgettable experience that explores the heavy price of drawing prosperity from sacred ground.
This is a must-read, chilling narrative that is gothic in its shadows, ancient in its fear, and utterly contemporary in its execution. If you crave horror that is atmospheric, steeped in history, and committed to the "folk" side of the genre, uncork this bottle of dread immediately. It’s a complex flavor that lingers long after the final page.
Set within an isolated English vineyard, the novel’s realism is instantly compelling. Penn’s research into viticulture and the cyclical nature of the harvest provides a grounded foundation for the terror. This authenticity makes the resulting sinister atmosphere—the sense that the land itself is watching and demanding tribute—all the more palpable. The protagonist, Rebecca, becomes convincingly tangled in the community’s ancient, bloody past, a struggle rooted believably in the soil.
The pacing is masterful. Penn builds tension by layering local legends beneath the reality of modern vineyard operations. The transition from psychological thriller to full-blown supernatural folk horror is flawless. By blending the mundane specifics of harvest and fermentation with the truly horrific reality of ancient sacrifices, Penn creates an intelligent, primal, and unforgettable experience that explores the heavy price of drawing prosperity from sacred ground.
This is a must-read, chilling narrative that is gothic in its shadows, ancient in its fear, and utterly contemporary in its execution. If you crave horror that is atmospheric, steeped in history, and committed to the "folk" side of the genre, uncork this bottle of dread immediately. It’s a complex flavor that lingers long after the final page.
October 7, 2025
Rebecca´s dreams of pursuing her career as an architect in London are shattered following a conflict with eco-activists. Disillusioned and haunted by the mysterious disappearance of her sister, she took a break from the city, devoting to manual work and distraction-free activities at the Standing Stone Cellars in Somerset. The much praised wine whose recipe is based on secret techniques and knowledge, hidding darker secrets and Rebecca is about to be part of a story leading to the most unexpected turn of events.
As usual, J.F.Penn is writing stories inspired by old myths where old traditions are entangled into everyday life. Compared to previous books, the part of suspense is rather moderate, with a well measured number of twists allowing the story to flow. It rather grow from the steady base of the mythologies surrounding and associated with wine. This narrative choice suits the characters and the pace, while slowly revealing new elements guiding towards the end.
For me, it was a captivating read, that mixed my love for wine and for mythological/cultural riddles. An extra point for the contemporaneity of the context, as Blood Vintage is very much taking place in our world full of contraditions where fragments of myths co-exist with far-in-the future projections.
The book is digitally narrated by the voice of J.F.Penn.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered by the author in exchange for an honest review
As usual, J.F.Penn is writing stories inspired by old myths where old traditions are entangled into everyday life. Compared to previous books, the part of suspense is rather moderate, with a well measured number of twists allowing the story to flow. It rather grow from the steady base of the mythologies surrounding and associated with wine. This narrative choice suits the characters and the pace, while slowly revealing new elements guiding towards the end.
For me, it was a captivating read, that mixed my love for wine and for mythological/cultural riddles. An extra point for the contemporaneity of the context, as Blood Vintage is very much taking place in our world full of contraditions where fragments of myths co-exist with far-in-the future projections.
The book is digitally narrated by the voice of J.F.Penn.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered by the author in exchange for an honest review
October 23, 2025
Blood Vintage is very well written as a folk horror. While the story begins with a young architect, Rebecca, who is looking to make a name for herself in her field, it soon turns into a need to hide out from her new found tormentors who are not happy with her project’s environmental destruction. Feeling that she needs to leave London for a while, she decides to try to find her sister who is missing. She goes to a quaint village where her sister was last seen and takes a job at a top award-winning winery.
Shortly after her arrival something seems to be off and eventually build up to a sinister level. If you
like super s Blood Vintage is very well written as a folk horror. While the story begins with a young architect, Rebecca, who is looking to make a name for herself in her field, it soon turns into a need to hide out from her new found tormentors who are not happy with her project’s environmental destruction. Feeling that she needs to leave London for a while, she decides to try to find her sister who is missing. She goes to a quaint village where her sister was last seen and takes a job at a top award-winning winery.
Shortly after her arrival something seems to be off and eventually builds up to a sinister level. If you
like super suspenseful stories which keep you oh the edge of your chair, this is perfect for you and I can highly recommend it.
I read an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Shortly after her arrival something seems to be off and eventually build up to a sinister level. If you
like super s Blood Vintage is very well written as a folk horror. While the story begins with a young architect, Rebecca, who is looking to make a name for herself in her field, it soon turns into a need to hide out from her new found tormentors who are not happy with her project’s environmental destruction. Feeling that she needs to leave London for a while, she decides to try to find her sister who is missing. She goes to a quaint village where her sister was last seen and takes a job at a top award-winning winery.
Shortly after her arrival something seems to be off and eventually builds up to a sinister level. If you
like super suspenseful stories which keep you oh the edge of your chair, this is perfect for you and I can highly recommend it.
I read an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
October 14, 2025
This story is a folk horror novel rooted in English soil and ancient myth.
It follows Rebecca Langford, an architect who joins Standing Stone Cellars, a biodynamic vineyard with hidden, ritualistic depths.
The plot unfolds with steady tension as she discovers that the land’s fertility demands sacrifices.
The narrative balances realism and the supernatural with discipline, never overstating the uncanny.
Penn’s writing is tight and deliberate. Her prose is lean, sensory, and precise. Each scene builds unease through setting and ritual rather than gore.
The vineyard itself becomes a living force, its presence constant and oppressive. The story’s strength lies in how modern ambition collides with primal belief.
The characters act with conviction and fear, and their motives always feel human.
If there is a flaw, it lies in the pacing near the middle, where exposition slows momentum. Some secondary characters could bear greater depth before their fates unfold.
The emotional control, thematic layering, and consistent tone suggest skilled craftsmanship from an experienced author.
Lovely cover.
Recommended for readers who enjoy controlled dread, folklore, and stories where beauty and horror share the same ground.
It follows Rebecca Langford, an architect who joins Standing Stone Cellars, a biodynamic vineyard with hidden, ritualistic depths.
The plot unfolds with steady tension as she discovers that the land’s fertility demands sacrifices.
The narrative balances realism and the supernatural with discipline, never overstating the uncanny.
Penn’s writing is tight and deliberate. Her prose is lean, sensory, and precise. Each scene builds unease through setting and ritual rather than gore.
The vineyard itself becomes a living force, its presence constant and oppressive. The story’s strength lies in how modern ambition collides with primal belief.
The characters act with conviction and fear, and their motives always feel human.
If there is a flaw, it lies in the pacing near the middle, where exposition slows momentum. Some secondary characters could bear greater depth before their fates unfold.
The emotional control, thematic layering, and consistent tone suggest skilled craftsmanship from an experienced author.
Lovely cover.
Recommended for readers who enjoy controlled dread, folklore, and stories where beauty and horror share the same ground.
September 16, 2025
Rebbeca, an architect by profession, flees where she is working because of activists who are not happy about the buildings being erected, although they had passed the plans. Rebecca immediately thinks of her sister and what happened to her, as she was a passionate activist and went missing, never to be found. Perhaps she did not want to be found, who knows?
Rebecca flees to Somerset and decides to take leave while things blow over, and decides she'll do some work at the local vineyard.
A very successful vineyard, but at what price? As Isobel, the owner, finds out that Rebecca is an architect, she has a special job for her as well as reaping in the harvest. While Rebecca researches plans using Isobel's extensive library, she comes across tomes that Rebecca finds intriguing, but there will be a price.
J.F. Penn does a lot of writing, and they have this supernatural tendency about them, but it is very well done.
I had the privilege not only to read the book but also to listen to the audio as well, and both were the same, so whatever your tendencies go for, I really enjoyed both versions.
Rebecca flees to Somerset and decides to take leave while things blow over, and decides she'll do some work at the local vineyard.
A very successful vineyard, but at what price? As Isobel, the owner, finds out that Rebecca is an architect, she has a special job for her as well as reaping in the harvest. While Rebecca researches plans using Isobel's extensive library, she comes across tomes that Rebecca finds intriguing, but there will be a price.
J.F. Penn does a lot of writing, and they have this supernatural tendency about them, but it is very well done.
I had the privilege not only to read the book but also to listen to the audio as well, and both were the same, so whatever your tendencies go for, I really enjoyed both versions.
September 24, 2025
Blood Vintage, the latest folk horror story from J. F. Penn is in my opinion one of her best. This story took hold of me right from the start and kept me firmly in its grasp until the end. While the story is described by the author as folk horror, the horror elements drive this story in a way that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat waiting to see what comes next without excess gory detail found in many other horror stories.
If you are new to J.F. Penn’s stories/novels Blood Vintage is an excellent introduction, and fair warning, when you’ve finished Blood Vintage, you will most likely find yourself voraciously consuming the rest of her catalogue.
If you’ve read or listened to any of J.F. Penn’s previous short works, Blood Vintage is a must read/listen.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of Blood Vintage from the author and chose to provide my review.
If you are new to J.F. Penn’s stories/novels Blood Vintage is an excellent introduction, and fair warning, when you’ve finished Blood Vintage, you will most likely find yourself voraciously consuming the rest of her catalogue.
If you’ve read or listened to any of J.F. Penn’s previous short works, Blood Vintage is a must read/listen.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of Blood Vintage from the author and chose to provide my review.
September 26, 2025
I was gifted this book by the author in exchange for a prompt and honest review.
I am not usually a fan of horror themed books, but I am a fan of Ms. Penn’s, so, of course I would give her book a try. To me, the book was less horror and more gothic and perhaps more of a thriller/mystery. To just pigeonhole it as a horror novel would be a horrible mistake. The book is not overly long, but the author fleshes out the several characters quite well and keeps the reader interested in how their fates unwind during the course of the story. The book is a fairly quick read. I am not particularly bothered by gritty scenes, but if you are bothered by tales of the occult, you might want to refrain from reading this one in the deepest part of night when the goblins are apt to roam. All-in-all a good read and a well executed story. I would expect no less from this author.
I am not usually a fan of horror themed books, but I am a fan of Ms. Penn’s, so, of course I would give her book a try. To me, the book was less horror and more gothic and perhaps more of a thriller/mystery. To just pigeonhole it as a horror novel would be a horrible mistake. The book is not overly long, but the author fleshes out the several characters quite well and keeps the reader interested in how their fates unwind during the course of the story. The book is a fairly quick read. I am not particularly bothered by gritty scenes, but if you are bothered by tales of the occult, you might want to refrain from reading this one in the deepest part of night when the goblins are apt to roam. All-in-all a good read and a well executed story. I would expect no less from this author.
September 14, 2025
This is a chilling folk horror novel set in the misty hills of Somerset, England, where ancient rituals ferment alongside the grapes of Standing Stone Cellars. After a violent clash with eco-activists, architect Rebecca flees London for the quiet village of Winbridge Hollow, only to find herself drawn into a sinister cycle of sacrifice and rebirth. As Beltane fires burn and Samhain shadows deepen, she uncovers the vineyard’s dark secret: its award-winning wine is nourished by blood rites and pagan offerings to the Horned God. With the veil between worlds thinning, Rebecca must choose—embrace the vineyard’s legacy or risk becoming its next sacrifice.
October 15, 2025
I was gifted this book by the author in exchange for a prompt and honest review.
I have read the majority of Joannas books and throughly enjoyed them all. Blood Vintage is a new genre for me I don't normally read horror or folk/horror so I was pleasantly surprised by this book, it seemed more gothic than horror to me.
Its not a long book with the characters being fleshed out nicely and keeping the reader interested in how their fates unwind. There are a few "gritty scenes" so i of you are bothered by the occult dont read it in the nether hours.
All in all this is a great read and well told story as you would expect from Joanna.
I have read the majority of Joannas books and throughly enjoyed them all. Blood Vintage is a new genre for me I don't normally read horror or folk/horror so I was pleasantly surprised by this book, it seemed more gothic than horror to me.
Its not a long book with the characters being fleshed out nicely and keeping the reader interested in how their fates unwind. There are a few "gritty scenes" so i of you are bothered by the occult dont read it in the nether hours.
All in all this is a great read and well told story as you would expect from Joanna.
August 25, 2025
This book entices you in with its dark but beautiful cover. The story is dark too but with a scenic backdrop of a remote winery. You can almost feel the earth and taste the wine in the enticing descriptions. Not too gory but with some secrets, death and mayhem, I ended up reading this page-turner over a weekend. I had never heard of folk horror before but it may now be my new fav genre! Highly recommended.
September 14, 2025
This book kept me engaged right to the end. I don't usually read this genre, but once I had started to read Blood Vintage, I couldn't give up. J F Penn writes well, including good, descriptive prose and interesting imagery. I listened to the audio version, which uses the author's cloned voice. I wouldn't have known it was a digitally created voice - it was excellent.
October 4, 2025
What a fantastic story, where each page brings the unexpected to light - some parts of the story based on science/research, while others show wonderful imagination - somewhat similar to a great wine which comes from blends of different varieties of grapes. Just be on the lookout in case you find a bottle of wine from "Standing Stone Cellars" - buyer beware!
October 12, 2025
I love books like Blood Vintage because they mix everyday life with old, creepy stories. It's exciting when a peaceful place hides dark secrets. I like reading about strange rituals, ancient gods, and people who must face scary choices. These stories pull me into a world of mystery where anything can happen—and I never want to stop reading.
I also enjoyed reading audio of this book.
I also enjoyed reading audio of this book.
October 15, 2025
As usual with JF Penn books, the atmosphere in this piece of work is marvellous. It's creepy, and will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
Once you start, you'll struggle to put this down. To hell with the housework! Well-written, full characterisations and a great storyline. Enjoy!
Once you start, you'll struggle to put this down. To hell with the housework! Well-written, full characterisations and a great storyline. Enjoy!
October 24, 2025
Blood Vintage: A Folk Horror Novel, my twenty-fourth short read from author J.F. Penn. A captivating read. Penn, as always, does a good job with her character development. "I received a complementary Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review."(RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
September 24, 2025
Quite a different and interesting story. Who knew vineyards could be like this. This author is awesome! I enjoyed this storyline and the characters were quite interesting. A few twist and turns through out!
September 30, 2025
This is a very good story. I was seriously engrossed from start to finish. An ending which gave rise to future events perhaps. You never know. I loved it. This author is a cracking story writer and then some. What are we getting next I wonder, I cannot wait to find out. Highly recommended.
November 2, 2025
I really enjoyed this book and found myself drawn into the atmospheric world of the setting. I loved the sense of place and history, the way the tension builds steadily towards the climax of the story. Thoroughly entertaining!
October 23, 2025
I was lucky enough to have gotten a ARC copy of this book from the author. I am volunteering to leave this review. Awesome book wild tale that will take you a adventure for the wine and land.
November 30, 2025
It's always nice to read about festivities I am familiar with, even if this is definitely not how I celebrate these days. I liked the general atmosphere.
December 8, 2025
Immersive and keeps you on edge! You won't look at winery tours the same!
October 15, 2025
Blood Vintage by author JF Penn is quite a rare book in which the atmosphere of something wrong is gradually cultivated into a horror that will have your hair rising in alarm as you feverishly page the book.
And it started off so innocently (lol) when nature conservationists/protesters blocked the development of blocks of buildings as in the process of doing so, ancient trees had to be destroyed .
It caused such a mess that Rebecca, the architect, had to flee the terrain and public outcry.
And then she agreed to help out on a wine farm in Somerset....
And my superior smile turned into frowns on my forehead and cold chills starting to be new normal for me.
Phew!
Enjoy.
And it started off so innocently (lol) when nature conservationists/protesters blocked the development of blocks of buildings as in the process of doing so, ancient trees had to be destroyed .
It caused such a mess that Rebecca, the architect, had to flee the terrain and public outcry.
And then she agreed to help out on a wine farm in Somerset....
And my superior smile turned into frowns on my forehead and cold chills starting to be new normal for me.
Phew!
Enjoy.
December 20, 2025
J.F. Penn has written another riveting story. This book is well written, easy to read and keeps you guessing at the cause of Rebecca‘s sense of unease. I found it impossible to figure out what would happen next. If you enjoy an unusual story, you will love this book.
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