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Nomads: a Folk Horror
A bad trip through human evolution
Nomads traces a dark and desperate path through man’s evolution, from our hunter-gatherer ancestors on the African savannah to slavery in the first settlements to the sordid streets of Shakespearean London, and culminating in a present day nightmare, following a cast of displaced nomads, forever fighting to survive another day, and hurtling always towards the unknown.
Nomads traces a dark and desperate path through man’s evolution, from our hunter-gatherer ancestors on the African savannah to slavery in the first settlements to the sordid streets of Shakespearean London, and culminating in a present day nightmare, following a cast of displaced nomads, forever fighting to survive another day, and hurtling always towards the unknown.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 12, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Martin Hyde Books for the ARC.
3.75/5
This is a very hard book to review, given how holistically different it is from every other horror book I've read this year. It takes a lot of swings I haven't seen before, and while I don't think it lands all of them, the ambitiousness of the novel lends itself a great of my respect and admiration. Framing the evolution and existence of humanity through this folk horror lens is quite intriguing. It's a very large concept to pick apart and then string together a cohesive narrative. Starting from early hominids and ending with the to modern day, the inevitability of human suffering is the main focus of each chapter, along side the inherent resilience that comes along with it; albeit sometimes too late. Where this concept lacked for me was with how loose each chapter was connected with the previous. We get one through line of the mushrooms and psychedelics, but other than that, there is nothing else to follow and look for when we are introduced to our new main character. What I think would have also added to the theme of the book would have been a chapter set in the far future to end with, which would tie back nicely to the first chapter being from the dawn of humanity.
3.75/5
This is a very hard book to review, given how holistically different it is from every other horror book I've read this year. It takes a lot of swings I haven't seen before, and while I don't think it lands all of them, the ambitiousness of the novel lends itself a great of my respect and admiration. Framing the evolution and existence of humanity through this folk horror lens is quite intriguing. It's a very large concept to pick apart and then string together a cohesive narrative. Starting from early hominids and ending with the to modern day, the inevitability of human suffering is the main focus of each chapter, along side the inherent resilience that comes along with it; albeit sometimes too late. Where this concept lacked for me was with how loose each chapter was connected with the previous. We get one through line of the mushrooms and psychedelics, but other than that, there is nothing else to follow and look for when we are introduced to our new main character. What I think would have also added to the theme of the book would have been a chapter set in the far future to end with, which would tie back nicely to the first chapter being from the dawn of humanity.
July 8, 2026
3.5 rounded down. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy.
I read this book in one day, and found it pretty enjoyable. I would have liked more equality and connection between the stories (besides the mushrooms). I did find each story intriguing, particularly Anna’s tale. However, I wouldn’t call this a horror, certainly not a folk horror. It was more of a grim anthology into the worst of human nature. Some of the formatting made dialogue hard to follow, especially in the last story.
All in all, a fun and fairly trippy read, but definitely more shock value than horror, and nothing truly scary.
I read this book in one day, and found it pretty enjoyable. I would have liked more equality and connection between the stories (besides the mushrooms). I did find each story intriguing, particularly Anna’s tale. However, I wouldn’t call this a horror, certainly not a folk horror. It was more of a grim anthology into the worst of human nature. Some of the formatting made dialogue hard to follow, especially in the last story.
All in all, a fun and fairly trippy read, but definitely more shock value than horror, and nothing truly scary.
April 9, 2026
NB: My rating is 4.5 stars but Goodreads doesn't allow that.
Oh boy! Where do I start with a book like this? A wild ride of a story that is almost several short stories that are subtly connected. It is dubbed a folk horror, to which I would add a distinctly psychedelic element.
Each chapter is set in a different period of human history. Different characters experience the harsh, violent conditions of their respective environments, the link between them being their mind expanding experiences with a psychoactive fungus. This element is a thread that loosely links each part, rather than being the main focus.
The story is brutal, violent, and at times shocking and unexpected! These are the horror elements but it is a book that straddles some different genres. I can see the influence of writers like Cormac McCarthy here and I think there are parallels with the ambiguous strangeness of Jeff VanderMeer, to name two. Ultimately, Martin Hyde has his own unique voice and has written this in such a way that it keeps you engrossed and guessing as to where it's all headed.
I was left with many questions after reading this. Thought provoking questions about humanity, violence, society, evolution. This is not a book that spoon feeds you what you're supposed to think, but does provoke a reaction to the very visceral events that occur. I loved that about it!
Not for the faint of heart, but certainly for the unflinching reader who likes something cerebral but also to be surprised. If you are a fan of horror or challenging fiction, give this a go. I look forward to reading more of Martin's work.
Oh boy! Where do I start with a book like this? A wild ride of a story that is almost several short stories that are subtly connected. It is dubbed a folk horror, to which I would add a distinctly psychedelic element.
Each chapter is set in a different period of human history. Different characters experience the harsh, violent conditions of their respective environments, the link between them being their mind expanding experiences with a psychoactive fungus. This element is a thread that loosely links each part, rather than being the main focus.
The story is brutal, violent, and at times shocking and unexpected! These are the horror elements but it is a book that straddles some different genres. I can see the influence of writers like Cormac McCarthy here and I think there are parallels with the ambiguous strangeness of Jeff VanderMeer, to name two. Ultimately, Martin Hyde has his own unique voice and has written this in such a way that it keeps you engrossed and guessing as to where it's all headed.
I was left with many questions after reading this. Thought provoking questions about humanity, violence, society, evolution. This is not a book that spoon feeds you what you're supposed to think, but does provoke a reaction to the very visceral events that occur. I loved that about it!
Not for the faint of heart, but certainly for the unflinching reader who likes something cerebral but also to be surprised. If you are a fan of horror or challenging fiction, give this a go. I look forward to reading more of Martin's work.
July 17, 2026
Nomads is a tale told from multiple POVs, spanning our early hominin ancestors through to a present day Londoner. These are all essentially the same story at heart told through different lenses and shaped by the societies of each period. All the individuals in this novel, although not directly connected, face similar difficulties, including displacement, violence and oppression. I liked how as we moved through time and space and saw societal, linguistic and technological advancements it was evident that each society still suffered from the same overarching issues. These include problems with hierarchical social structures, the resulting power and resource imbalances and tribal mentalities resulting in violence and warfare. The horror elements are very much rooted in the horrors we perpetrate against each other.
There was a more tangible throughline involving psychedelics but I failed to understand the full significance of their use. I wish this had been developed further or that some other palpable element had been added to supplement the connectivity of the POVs.
I loved how the prose changed through time, reflecting the state of linguistic development (especially in the early POVs), the time period in which we were placed and the individual we were following. I did find the last chapter difficult to follow for this reason though.
Overall, Nomads is ambitious in scope and style and I found it to be an enjoyable and unique reading experience.
I received an eARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
There was a more tangible throughline involving psychedelics but I failed to understand the full significance of their use. I wish this had been developed further or that some other palpable element had been added to supplement the connectivity of the POVs.
I loved how the prose changed through time, reflecting the state of linguistic development (especially in the early POVs), the time period in which we were placed and the individual we were following. I did find the last chapter difficult to follow for this reason though.
Overall, Nomads is ambitious in scope and style and I found it to be an enjoyable and unique reading experience.
I received an eARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
June 28, 2026
A "horror" book accurately described as an anthology of disconnected tales through centuries, each focusing on a marginalized character at some point in history with much shock value and violence to boot yet nothing at all close to terrifying. While the language usage in each tale varies to represent specific points in history in quite the good sense, the Cormac McCarthy-esque prose and quoteless dialogue didn't feel purposeful other than artistic choice, and the minimalistic depiction of violence quickly becomes scathing rather than eerie once you've read through the sixth instance halfway through.
June 30, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Martin Hyde Books for the ARC.
This was a fairly unique book with some great, albeit somewhat depressing insights about humanity. Similar to 2001: A Space Odyssey, without the technological side so much as the human side. The stories were engaging, but they were short enough that you couldn’t get fully immersed in everything going on. Each story was complete, but you are left with many questions, which may be what the author was looking for to provoke thought. Will definitely revisit this author again in the future.
This was a fairly unique book with some great, albeit somewhat depressing insights about humanity. Similar to 2001: A Space Odyssey, without the technological side so much as the human side. The stories were engaging, but they were short enough that you couldn’t get fully immersed in everything going on. Each story was complete, but you are left with many questions, which may be what the author was looking for to provoke thought. Will definitely revisit this author again in the future.
August 1, 2026
I could see what the author was going for but I don’t think they quite got there. As the chapters progressed there was more character development (which does fit with the broader theme of evolution) but even then the characters felt pretty two dimensional.
I also struggled with the fact that almost every female character suffered the same “horror”. Regardless of their eventual ending it felt like recycling the same story in different eras.
I also struggled with the fact that almost every female character suffered the same “horror”. Regardless of their eventual ending it felt like recycling the same story in different eras.
May 17, 2026
received a free copy of this book via Hidden Gem books and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
LIKE THE BOOK
short stories
good for Halloween or good mind twist
This is where I say the author gives enough information.
So, I do not give anything away.
May 22, 2026
This tale will show how those in this story fight through their lives. It follows many different people through the ages to see how each of them deal with all the challenges and obstacles they will face. A brilliant tale
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great read
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great read
June 1, 2026
This is a really unique book. It's so short yet each chapter is a new time period. Whiplash in the most sci fi sense.
The cover is really cool, I read an ARC and so i'm hoping it isn't ai because surrealistic sci fi art is so cool.
The cover is really cool, I read an ARC and so i'm hoping it isn't ai because surrealistic sci fi art is so cool.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews