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God's Own Country: A Trinity of Novellas
Not yet published
Expected 9 Jun 26Father. Son. Holy Spirit. Three faces of the divine, three sides of human nature, three tales of damnation and ecstasy.
A Baptist congregation trapped in church must survive a hell of their own making, as well as each other. A youth group camping in the Louisiana wilds must contend with a monster older than sin and deadlier than the heat. A fundamentalist evangelizing in a rural town discovers horrifying truths about his God’s love and mercy.
Welcome to Louisiana, to its churches haunted by righteousness, to its forests baptized in holy fire, to its towns built on the grace of angels. Welcome to God’s own country.
A Baptist congregation trapped in church must survive a hell of their own making, as well as each other. A youth group camping in the Louisiana wilds must contend with a monster older than sin and deadlier than the heat. A fundamentalist evangelizing in a rural town discovers horrifying truths about his God’s love and mercy.
Welcome to Louisiana, to its churches haunted by righteousness, to its forests baptized in holy fire, to its towns built on the grace of angels. Welcome to God’s own country.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you loved What the Woods Took and Cuckoo.. you might like this.
This book was as oppressive as a Saturday Bible study was for me as a queer child 14 years ago. The constant mention of sin and hell, and the hypocrisy of everyone involved, what an experience.
The writing can feel a bit all over the place and I did feel a lost at times and wish the structure was more sound BUT I still do think it goes well with how the characters are feeling within the narrative, it's unnerving and entertaining just like the author intended it to be.
There's truly no hate like Christian love and the author makes sure to remind you of this at every turn. The church has dirtied the name of God in the name of worshiping a false messiah, they walk around like pharisees. Let this book be a terse reminder that when you point a finger at someone, four are pointing right back to you.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was as oppressive as a Saturday Bible study was for me as a queer child 14 years ago. The constant mention of sin and hell, and the hypocrisy of everyone involved, what an experience.
The writing can feel a bit all over the place and I did feel a lost at times and wish the structure was more sound BUT I still do think it goes well with how the characters are feeling within the narrative, it's unnerving and entertaining just like the author intended it to be.
There's truly no hate like Christian love and the author makes sure to remind you of this at every turn. The church has dirtied the name of God in the name of worshiping a false messiah, they walk around like pharisees. Let this book be a terse reminder that when you point a finger at someone, four are pointing right back to you.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I think half of this really works, and the other half doesn't. While I LOVE the idea of this trinity of novellas, the execution itself is the reason I have to consider this one not flawless. I am from North Louisiana, and there is nothing like the Bible belt, the sweltering shame thats as stifling as the humidity itself, and the downright hypocrisy at the end of it all. I adored the fun Easter eggs, the mentions of summer camp and the evangelizing that goes on there was so real it hurt. This author clearly took an oppressive situation and the fear surrounding it and turned it into a horrifying delight. I'd like to add I LOVE the "trinity" three inclusion. Thank you to NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for the eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
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April 20, 2026God’s Own Country: A Trinity of Novellas by Mathew L Reyes is a dark and concept driven collection that explores faith, morality, and human nature through three interconnected narratives. Each novella presents a different perspective on belief, set against unsettling and atmospheric backdrops.
The work stands out for its use of religious symbolism combined with psychological tension and horror elements. The varied settings and narrative approaches create a cohesive exploration of devotion, fear, and the consequences of faith.
A compelling and thought provoking collection that blends horror with deeper thematic exploration of belief and human nature.
The work stands out for its use of religious symbolism combined with psychological tension and horror elements. The varied settings and narrative approaches create a cohesive exploration of devotion, fear, and the consequences of faith.
A compelling and thought provoking collection that blends horror with deeper thematic exploration of belief and human nature.
May 2, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Southern gothic with a touch of weird, or as the author himself aptly puts it, Southern weird. Shame, bigotry, mass hysteria, people’s worst and best versions, ancient entities and folklore, with religion as the backdrop and the centerpiece. This was beautifully done. The writing was very good (and neat). Besides the genius of three novellas for the holy trinity, I think the format really worked. I also liked the fact that all three stories were loosely connected. A great religious horror read for a gloomy day.
Southern gothic with a touch of weird, or as the author himself aptly puts it, Southern weird. Shame, bigotry, mass hysteria, people’s worst and best versions, ancient entities and folklore, with religion as the backdrop and the centerpiece. This was beautifully done. The writing was very good (and neat). Besides the genius of three novellas for the holy trinity, I think the format really worked. I also liked the fact that all three stories were loosely connected. A great religious horror read for a gloomy day.
Did Not Finish
May 11, 2026𓏲࣪◜dnf ♡ᵎ
When i first heard it’s about Gothic horror, i was immediately thrilled, i mean it sounded perfect!
But honestly, it didn't grab me the way I'd hoped. The stories didn't captivate me, and the writing style felt too messy for most of the time.
I sadly only read the first two stories and started the third, but they just weren't as good as I'd imagined but the second one was sooo much stronger than the first one.
When i first heard it’s about Gothic horror, i was immediately thrilled, i mean it sounded perfect!
But honestly, it didn't grab me the way I'd hoped. The stories didn't captivate me, and the writing style felt too messy for most of the time.
I sadly only read the first two stories and started the third, but they just weren't as good as I'd imagined but the second one was sooo much stronger than the first one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book had me in constant contemplation. These stories showed the toxicity and hypocrisy of modern parts of Christianity and had me rooting for characters like Wally, Jesse, Noah, Jacob, Daliah, and Eve who showed what Christianity should be. Love, acceptance, and fellowship.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews