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American Petrichor
Not yet published
Expected 1 Jun 26When a mysterious rider arrives in the frontier town of Bastion, Wyoming bearing a church bell and the promise of divine blessings to come, the townspeople see providence where they should see warning. The stranger is quick to insist that God has chosen Bastion to be his chosen land, a message happily received by the community’s desire for meaning against the swallowing plains that surround them.
But does something more insidious than prophecy lurk behind the visitor’s words? The question lingers in the minds of the town’s bartender, sheriff, and young deputy as storms both literal and allegorical fall upon them. Can they overcome a rising tide of illusion, misdirection, and mass-hysteria before the flames of conviction burn Bastion to ash?
Told in evocative yet focused prose, American Petrichor pulls inspiration from Germany’s 1534 Munster Rebellion to remind us just how easily man’s institutions—and the people that build them—can mistake malevolence for providence. It will appeal to readers of The Fisherman, Blood Meridian, and The Devil All the Time.
But does something more insidious than prophecy lurk behind the visitor’s words? The question lingers in the minds of the town’s bartender, sheriff, and young deputy as storms both literal and allegorical fall upon them. Can they overcome a rising tide of illusion, misdirection, and mass-hysteria before the flames of conviction burn Bastion to ash?
Told in evocative yet focused prose, American Petrichor pulls inspiration from Germany’s 1534 Munster Rebellion to remind us just how easily man’s institutions—and the people that build them—can mistake malevolence for providence. It will appeal to readers of The Fisherman, Blood Meridian, and The Devil All the Time.
- GenresWesterns
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 1, 2026
6 people are currently reading
1183 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 12, 2026
3.75 stars if I could give it that. Rounding up to 4 for goodreads
I went into "American Petrichor" with absolutely no expectations - won it in one of those Goodreads giveaways as an ARC. I barely read the synopsis, looked up the word “petrichor,” and started reading.
And when I finished? I was a bit confused and slightly unsettled. There most definitely was more to the book than I was immediately able to unpack.
Western at its core, with horror simmering just beneath the surface. Not a jump-scare horror. Some gore and body horror. But mostly the kind horror that is slow and builds dread.
Speaking of slow, the pacing is very slow. Possibly purposely forcing you to sit in the discomfort of how slow it is. The last quarter picks up, and when it does, the tension finally erupts like a giant storm cloud (pun intended) on everything that’s been brewing.
Beneath the surface plot, this story feels more about identity, religion, and mainly how easily people surrender individuality for belonging. Bastion isn’t just a town; it’s a warning.
The writing is fairly straightforward with certain repetitive words. I wasn't able to determine if the repetition was intentional or not. I did catch a few typos and feel the book could have benefited from tighter editing.
This isn’t a book that changed me, nor would I reread it. However, I would absolutely discuss it - I feel like it needs some group discussion to help pull out some of the underlying ideas.
Why 3.75 stars?
The horror elements in the final stretch and the persistent sense of unease were strong. But the pacing and editing held it back from being something exceptional.
Overall, I'm glad I read it. 🖤
If you need constant action, this won’t work for you.
If you’re okay with a slow burn that builds toward one culminating event, this might be your road to saunter down.
I went into "American Petrichor" with absolutely no expectations - won it in one of those Goodreads giveaways as an ARC. I barely read the synopsis, looked up the word “petrichor,” and started reading.
And when I finished? I was a bit confused and slightly unsettled. There most definitely was more to the book than I was immediately able to unpack.
Western at its core, with horror simmering just beneath the surface. Not a jump-scare horror. Some gore and body horror. But mostly the kind horror that is slow and builds dread.
Speaking of slow, the pacing is very slow. Possibly purposely forcing you to sit in the discomfort of how slow it is. The last quarter picks up, and when it does, the tension finally erupts like a giant storm cloud (pun intended) on everything that’s been brewing.
Beneath the surface plot, this story feels more about identity, religion, and mainly how easily people surrender individuality for belonging. Bastion isn’t just a town; it’s a warning.
The writing is fairly straightforward with certain repetitive words. I wasn't able to determine if the repetition was intentional or not. I did catch a few typos and feel the book could have benefited from tighter editing.
This isn’t a book that changed me, nor would I reread it. However, I would absolutely discuss it - I feel like it needs some group discussion to help pull out some of the underlying ideas.
Why 3.75 stars?
The horror elements in the final stretch and the persistent sense of unease were strong. But the pacing and editing held it back from being something exceptional.
Overall, I'm glad I read it. 🖤
If you need constant action, this won’t work for you.
If you’re okay with a slow burn that builds toward one culminating event, this might be your road to saunter down.
Read
March 2, 2026I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
First off a big thank you the author Nathaniel Shrake for reaching out to me and inviting me to read his book American Petrichor ,and it did fit in the type of.books I do read which is Horror Suspense , because while I was reading it , it brought to mind 3 of my all time favorite books 2 by Stephen King and one by William W Johnstone, all 3 take place in a small town where evil comes and sorting people are called up on to face that evil so basically their good vs evil type of books, just like this one , the story pulled me into even if it was some what different from those three and that is this is set in the western days and not the modern times like those 3 are and were . Plus let's not forget the author's characters who made this story come to life , especially the ones that give it that creepy vibe . So with that been said what did I like the best :
The pacing
Writing of the story
Character development
The dark tone - especially that it would be a Horror Suspense if it didn't have that.
First off a big thank you the author Nathaniel Shrake for reaching out to me and inviting me to read his book American Petrichor ,and it did fit in the type of.books I do read which is Horror Suspense , because while I was reading it , it brought to mind 3 of my all time favorite books 2 by Stephen King and one by William W Johnstone, all 3 take place in a small town where evil comes and sorting people are called up on to face that evil so basically their good vs evil type of books, just like this one , the story pulled me into even if it was some what different from those three and that is this is set in the western days and not the modern times like those 3 are and were . Plus let's not forget the author's characters who made this story come to life , especially the ones that give it that creepy vibe . So with that been said what did I like the best :
The pacing
Writing of the story
Character development
The dark tone - especially that it would be a Horror Suspense if it didn't have that.
Read
May 10, 2026Thanks to the author, Nathaniel Shrake for trusting me with an advanced copy of your sophomore work in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Shrake debut - the mix of occult and horror blending with an unreliable narrator speaks to me, so I know that when I pick up this work, that he will have a good grasp of style and blend of genre that will make it an engaging read. This time, we are looking at a Western horror inspired by the 1534 Munster Rebellion. All the core Shrakeisms are still present, but amplified - much bigger in scale.
The story here is told through shifting perspectives - a chronologically unfolding event where the devil rides into town, and we see the implications of this through multiple town folks’ eyes. Sometimes scenes will overlap to get that emotional effect from the character who is most affected by the event. Unfortunately I think this is the weakest part of the work. The shifting perspectives flip through like whiplash, and I find myself lost and needing to recontextualize before moving forward, which makes it a challenging read. Because of this too, when the characters’ paths diverge from in-town vs out-of-town storylines, I find myself preferring one storyline to the other. I think the central plot is not overly complex, but the way it is written makes it too complex unnecessarily. I would have loved to explore the events within Bastion and not focus too much on the events outside of Bastion. I think because of this too, I feel ultimately dissatisfied, whereby I feel like we accelerated to the ending of the novel and ultimately I didn’t understand the motivation of the devil-figure, and all the apparitions that occur throughout the story: Are these his doing? Was he summoned by the kid? What’s the relationship between these apparition(s) and this person?
But where Shrake excels, is in the horror elements. There is so much ingenuity in the way he writes horror and gore - which one would have had a chance to enjoy from his first work. It is definitely unsettling and it keeps you questioning and wondering about the next outcome, and somehow predictability is out of the window. You will definitely be shocked and surprised with this novel. Given some edits and trims here and there, I think it’ll be a tighter story and will accentuate the horror elements so much better.
I loved Shrake debut - the mix of occult and horror blending with an unreliable narrator speaks to me, so I know that when I pick up this work, that he will have a good grasp of style and blend of genre that will make it an engaging read. This time, we are looking at a Western horror inspired by the 1534 Munster Rebellion. All the core Shrakeisms are still present, but amplified - much bigger in scale.
The story here is told through shifting perspectives - a chronologically unfolding event where the devil rides into town, and we see the implications of this through multiple town folks’ eyes. Sometimes scenes will overlap to get that emotional effect from the character who is most affected by the event. Unfortunately I think this is the weakest part of the work. The shifting perspectives flip through like whiplash, and I find myself lost and needing to recontextualize before moving forward, which makes it a challenging read. Because of this too, when the characters’ paths diverge from in-town vs out-of-town storylines, I find myself preferring one storyline to the other. I think the central plot is not overly complex, but the way it is written makes it too complex unnecessarily. I would have loved to explore the events within Bastion and not focus too much on the events outside of Bastion. I think because of this too, I feel ultimately dissatisfied, whereby I feel like we accelerated to the ending of the novel and ultimately I didn’t understand the motivation of the devil-figure, and all the apparitions that occur throughout the story: Are these his doing? Was he summoned by the kid? What’s the relationship between these apparition(s) and this person?
But where Shrake excels, is in the horror elements. There is so much ingenuity in the way he writes horror and gore - which one would have had a chance to enjoy from his first work. It is definitely unsettling and it keeps you questioning and wondering about the next outcome, and somehow predictability is out of the window. You will definitely be shocked and surprised with this novel. Given some edits and trims here and there, I think it’ll be a tighter story and will accentuate the horror elements so much better.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I enjoyed this book. I felt the setting was wonderfully described. American West in its the late 1800’s. The characters and what they go through and experience was gripping. I liked the plot and how the tale builds to a climax in the final chapters. The ending was a bit of a surprise to me. I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to the author and publisher for the book. This review is my opinion, and mine alone.
Review of advance copy
3.5
Nathaniel Shrake is excellent at building a creepy setting. The setting is everything you want in a small-town horror: isolated, minimalist, and overseen by a lone sheriff. When a terrifying preacher arrives to spread the word of God, the religious horror elements kicked in which always gives me the creeps.
Unfortunately, the introduction of the Marshal and Shae felt like a turning point where the story lost its edge. I was so invested in the initial mystery that the final act felt underwhelming by comparison. I was looking for a satisfying big finish, but ended up feeling like the story just ran out of steam.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks BookSirens!
Nathaniel Shrake is excellent at building a creepy setting. The setting is everything you want in a small-town horror: isolated, minimalist, and overseen by a lone sheriff. When a terrifying preacher arrives to spread the word of God, the religious horror elements kicked in which always gives me the creeps.
Unfortunately, the introduction of the Marshal and Shae felt like a turning point where the story lost its edge. I was so invested in the initial mystery that the final act felt underwhelming by comparison. I was looking for a satisfying big finish, but ended up feeling like the story just ran out of steam.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks BookSirens!
Review of advance copy
A stranger arrives claiming a proclamation from G-d. What could go wrong?
American Petrichor is a folk horror with a western frontier vibe that explores how blind faith, innate fear, and absolute power can transform a seemingly normal community into something terrifying and unsettling.
The world building centers on a frontier settlement where faith, isolation, and the landscape shape everything. Bastion, Wyoming is isolated, the climate is harsh and survival sometimes hinges on a prayer so religion is all most have to hold on too. Shrake builds his world around historical frontier realities such as self-governing towns far from federal authority, independent religious movements and migration and settlement patterns and by doing this it paints a vivid and immersive picture for the reader.
Character development revolves around how ordinary people in an isolated frontier town change when confronted with hope, fear, and religious fervor. Rather than focusing on a single POV, the story develops several perspectives, thus showing the town’s gradual transformation. The overall tension comes from watching those small personal decisions slowly reshape an entire community. After all, people do not become fanatics overnight. It is something that grows slowly, nourished by fear, desperation, and hope until it becomes all consuming.
That being said, stories built around atmosphere and ideology can move slowly and sometimes feel dense do to the amount of information being given. This novel leans heavily into mood and philosophical dialogue, which means the middle stretches can feel slow so if you’re expecting a more traditional Western or horror plot filled with action you may find yourself a bit disappointed. I myself am a lover of all things historical so I really appreciated this writing style.
Overall, if you enjoy atmospheric, literary horror with Western elements, American Petrichor delivers something memorable. It’s a story about how belief spreads, how communities fracture, and how easily hope can become something dangerous.
American Petrichor is a folk horror with a western frontier vibe that explores how blind faith, innate fear, and absolute power can transform a seemingly normal community into something terrifying and unsettling.
The world building centers on a frontier settlement where faith, isolation, and the landscape shape everything. Bastion, Wyoming is isolated, the climate is harsh and survival sometimes hinges on a prayer so religion is all most have to hold on too. Shrake builds his world around historical frontier realities such as self-governing towns far from federal authority, independent religious movements and migration and settlement patterns and by doing this it paints a vivid and immersive picture for the reader.
Character development revolves around how ordinary people in an isolated frontier town change when confronted with hope, fear, and religious fervor. Rather than focusing on a single POV, the story develops several perspectives, thus showing the town’s gradual transformation. The overall tension comes from watching those small personal decisions slowly reshape an entire community. After all, people do not become fanatics overnight. It is something that grows slowly, nourished by fear, desperation, and hope until it becomes all consuming.
That being said, stories built around atmosphere and ideology can move slowly and sometimes feel dense do to the amount of information being given. This novel leans heavily into mood and philosophical dialogue, which means the middle stretches can feel slow so if you’re expecting a more traditional Western or horror plot filled with action you may find yourself a bit disappointed. I myself am a lover of all things historical so I really appreciated this writing style.
Overall, if you enjoy atmospheric, literary horror with Western elements, American Petrichor delivers something memorable. It’s a story about how belief spreads, how communities fracture, and how easily hope can become something dangerous.
Review of advance copy
Very nicely done! A Western Horror novel where the horror is mostly implied and the dread creeps slowly right under the floorboards. It's a slow burn, sure, but this balances out with unnerving atmosphere, riveting suspense, and eerie, haunting descriptions of quite dark situations. It's easy to picture everything, but also get a good feel for it. The plot trades action for powerful ideas and compelling characterization, blending the Western frontier setting with religious horror elements in a most unsettling way, touching on issues of faith, moral corruption, and themes of isolation and transformation (not always for the best!). Great world-building overall, a satisfying sense of place, and a skillful use of folk horror tropes with interesting (though seldom relatable) characters.
The writing deserves special mention: it initially gave me a little trouble, as it was occasionally too simple, too mechanical and straightforward. But I kept reading, and the prose revealed a complexity best suited to an audience that already loves reading history books and literary horror. That said, the author has certain "philosophical" things to say which are not always properly developed or ruminated upon - and perhaps shouldn't in a horror novel: they took away some of the tension and distracted me from the central mystery. Still, I heartily recommend the book and look forward to reading more from the author!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The writing deserves special mention: it initially gave me a little trouble, as it was occasionally too simple, too mechanical and straightforward. But I kept reading, and the prose revealed a complexity best suited to an audience that already loves reading history books and literary horror. That said, the author has certain "philosophical" things to say which are not always properly developed or ruminated upon - and perhaps shouldn't in a horror novel: they took away some of the tension and distracted me from the central mystery. Still, I heartily recommend the book and look forward to reading more from the author!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
I feel conflicted with this novel. The writing was excellent and kept you engaged; however, the story itself did not draw me in. The story itself was interesting, but the more I discovered and understood, the more it felt incomplete while also feeling unsurprising. I rarely find a book with such great writing that I don’t also love the story. The way the author described setting was impressive. The characters were well written, it felt like there were a few main characters, which made it seem complex in a good way.
There were great elements to the story, but in the end, the mystery, though not always fully understood, was a little predictable, only because too much was revealed too early?
For all of the great prose, setting and original intrigue, I wish the lore and conflict in the end met it at the same level. The ending came quickly for a lot of buildup, and it did not feel complete. For some reason, even though the door was possibly left open for more to the story, it simply didn’t feel like what you are left with makes you want more. I do look forward to reading more of this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There were great elements to the story, but in the end, the mystery, though not always fully understood, was a little predictable, only because too much was revealed too early?
For all of the great prose, setting and original intrigue, I wish the lore and conflict in the end met it at the same level. The ending came quickly for a lot of buildup, and it did not feel complete. For some reason, even though the door was possibly left open for more to the story, it simply didn’t feel like what you are left with makes you want more. I do look forward to reading more of this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5
Thank you so much to the author for this ARC! All thoughts are my own.
American Petrichor is an awesome read that is able to tell a cohesive and compelling story while blending genres (including western, horror, and paranormal elements).
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its prose. This is the second book I've read by Shrake, and his writing is consistently vivid and beautiful, allowing the reader to really feel the book come to life.
I was really engaged in the story because it showcases the dangers of blind faith when presented with a compelling story or figure to follow and the consequences of unchecked power. At every point of the book I found myself wondering what was going to happen.
Also, as someone who lives in WY, I was really loving all of the Wyoming lore thrown in.
I would absolutely recommend this book! I look forward to reading what ever Shrake puts out next!
Thank you so much to the author for this ARC! All thoughts are my own.
American Petrichor is an awesome read that is able to tell a cohesive and compelling story while blending genres (including western, horror, and paranormal elements).
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its prose. This is the second book I've read by Shrake, and his writing is consistently vivid and beautiful, allowing the reader to really feel the book come to life.
I was really engaged in the story because it showcases the dangers of blind faith when presented with a compelling story or figure to follow and the consequences of unchecked power. At every point of the book I found myself wondering what was going to happen.
Also, as someone who lives in WY, I was really loving all of the Wyoming lore thrown in.
I would absolutely recommend this book! I look forward to reading what ever Shrake puts out next!
Did Not Finish
March 22, 2026DNF at 56% - Thank you to Goodreads and the author for the giveaway. This book sounded right up my alley, and I gave it a sincere effort. At its core, the story and characters were interesting. The book has potential with some editing. I understand that I was reading an ARC, but the typos and grammatical errors were too numerous to get past. The pacing suffered from shifts in perspective going back in time. When you finally get to a big event, you’re forced to reread it over and over from someone else’s POV to little effect. I would consider giving this book another chance after it’s published and hopefully well edited. Wishing luck and success to the author!
Review of advance copy received from Author
American Petrichor is a multi-perspective novel, that leads you through the town of Bastion and all of its townspeople.
I enjoyed the story, but felt a little dizzy with all of the "things" happening. I don't want to say much about the meat and potatoes of the story as I wish to not spoil it, but I wish Nathaniel would have picked one or maybe two of the directions he was trying to take this book and stuck with those. It felt just a little overwhelming. Otherwise a decent story to follow along.
I enjoyed the story, but felt a little dizzy with all of the "things" happening. I don't want to say much about the meat and potatoes of the story as I wish to not spoil it, but I wish Nathaniel would have picked one or maybe two of the directions he was trying to take this book and stuck with those. It felt just a little overwhelming. Otherwise a decent story to follow along.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What an interesting read! I enjoyed the western-meets-horror premise, and the author does an excellent job of world building. This book is atmospheric and creepy, and while it's not jump scare horror, the building sense of dread gets under your skin! If you enjoy a tense slow-burn or just want something different in the horror genre, give this one a read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow! This is a beautifully written story about a mysterious rider who comes into the town of Bastion, Wyoming, in the late 1800s. From the start, the story was gripping and hard to put down. Nathaniel Shrake is a masterful writer who keeps you thinking throughout, even after the story's over. A MUST read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a fun read! Shrake has a keen eye for character and sharp ear for dialogue. Highly recommended if you're looking for a Western vibe with some mystical horror sprinkled in!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Some stories are easy to categorize. American Petrichor isn’t one of them, and that’s exactly what makes it work.
The story is set in a historic western town being disrupted by a slowly tension between religion and common sense. The characters are easy to root for with just enough depth and intrigue to keep each POV engaging. (I have a hard time immersing myself into stories when I don’t like any of the characters.) Dialogue feels authentic with subtle humor sprinkled throughout that balances the darker elements of the story, and the pacing allows the mystery to deepen without feeling rushed.
Shrake’s style of genre-blending writing, influenced by a classic literary prose, feels entirely his own by creating an atmosphere that’s eerie, intentional, and strangely beautiful (fire tornado, anyone?). The ending caught me off guard; unexpected, a little devastating, and the kind that sends you flipping back through the final pages.
Unpredictable, atmospheric, and beautifully written, American Petrichor is another memorable installment from an author who writes the kinds of stories you never quite see coming and didn’t know you needed.
The story is set in a historic western town being disrupted by a slowly tension between religion and common sense. The characters are easy to root for with just enough depth and intrigue to keep each POV engaging. (I have a hard time immersing myself into stories when I don’t like any of the characters.) Dialogue feels authentic with subtle humor sprinkled throughout that balances the darker elements of the story, and the pacing allows the mystery to deepen without feeling rushed.
Shrake’s style of genre-blending writing, influenced by a classic literary prose, feels entirely his own by creating an atmosphere that’s eerie, intentional, and strangely beautiful (fire tornado, anyone?). The ending caught me off guard; unexpected, a little devastating, and the kind that sends you flipping back through the final pages.
Unpredictable, atmospheric, and beautifully written, American Petrichor is another memorable installment from an author who writes the kinds of stories you never quite see coming and didn’t know you needed.
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