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Grim Harvest
Almost a year has passed since the town of Ember Hollow learned the true meaning of fear. Last Halloween, something foul and insidious turned their annual celebration into a nightmare of blood-soaked visions, resurrections, and death. Now, as the harvest approaches, the locals brace themselves for the holiday’s return—and the rebirth of an evil that knows where they live . . .
A documentary filmmaker turns his lens on a shaken community—and exposes the darkness in his own soul. The survivor of a mass murderer hides a face disfigured by violence—and a mind infected with madness. A girl who lost her family finds cold comfort in a foster home where cruelty and fear are child’s play. And the local reverend begins to lose faith when a sadistic convict is busted out of jail, unleashing a new wave of evil too hideous to imagine . . . and too seductive to resist . . .
A documentary filmmaker turns his lens on a shaken community—and exposes the darkness in his own soul. The survivor of a mass murderer hides a face disfigured by violence—and a mind infected with madness. A girl who lost her family finds cold comfort in a foster home where cruelty and fear are child’s play. And the local reverend begins to lose faith when a sadistic convict is busted out of jail, unleashing a new wave of evil too hideous to imagine . . . and too seductive to resist . . .
- GenresHorror
205 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2019
7 people are currently reading
403 people want to read
About the author
Patrick C. Greene
28 books153 followersSome dark serendipity plopped a young Patrick Greene in front of a series of ever stranger films-and experiences-in his formative years, leading to a unique viewpoint. His odd interests have led to pursuits in film acting, paranormal investigation, martial arts, quantum physics, bizarre folklore and eastern philosophy. These elements flavor his screenplays and fiction works, often leading to strange and unexpected detours designed to keep viewers and readers on their toes.
Literary influences range from Poe to Clive Barker to John Keel to a certain best selling Bangorian. Suspense, irony, and outrageously surreal circumstances test the characters who populate his work, taking them and the reader on a grandly bizarre journey into the furthest realms of darkness. The uneasy notion that reality itself is not only relative but indeed elastic- is the hallmark of Greene’s writing.
Living in the rural periphery of Asheville North Carolina with his wife,youngest son Gavin and an ever-growing army of cats, Greene still trains in martial arts when he’s not giving birth to demons via his pen and keyboard.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 20, 2019
2.5 Stars
Fall is upon Ember Hollow again with victims and residents from the last annual pumpkin parade from hell still reeling and healing from the town's massacre.
GRIM HARVEST (great book cover) is jam packed with a variety of evil characters and sub-plots....some, however, unnecessary IMHO with a narrative that jumps around too much within the same chapter making for a frustrating and confusing read for this horror lover. The main plot was lost too as were some of the best of the best characters like Witch Matilda. Oh I wanted more of her and those other great areas of darkness that abruptly ended only to lose impact by paragraph breaks.
Writing less than average reviews makes me feel bad, but if I'm to be truthful, this short 200 page read turned out to be a long one....FOR ME.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2019
Grim Harvest by Patrick C. Greene
I am a fan of Mr. Greens Haunted Hollow Chronicles and was excited to be able to grab a copy of this book from Netgalley and the Publishers (thank you much!) Although this could be read as a stand alone I think if you can get your hands on Red Harvest the 1st book you would understand better what is happening in Ember Hollow! This book picks up roughly a year after Red Harvest which brings us back to Halloween time and whether or not the town and the residents could take another Halloween Parade and what could ensue. I was not disappointed in any way with this book and look forward to the next one in the series! Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for this book and letting me leave my honest opinion.
I am a fan of Mr. Greens Haunted Hollow Chronicles and was excited to be able to grab a copy of this book from Netgalley and the Publishers (thank you much!) Although this could be read as a stand alone I think if you can get your hands on Red Harvest the 1st book you would understand better what is happening in Ember Hollow! This book picks up roughly a year after Red Harvest which brings us back to Halloween time and whether or not the town and the residents could take another Halloween Parade and what could ensue. I was not disappointed in any way with this book and look forward to the next one in the series! Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for this book and letting me leave my honest opinion.
July 31, 2019
Fun, but read book 1 first!
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
When I selected this book to read, I didn’t realize it was book 2 in a series. I opted to read it anyway and it was a whole lot of fun.
Now, it doesn’t truly work as a standalone. There are still a few things that I found very confusing. There’s history that, even in the end, I felt like I really didn’t understand.
But…the book is a blast. I ended up loving our characters and getting completely creeped out by some of the imagery. And when the climax of the novel comes, watch out!
The book is fast paced, gruesome, and has werewolf/skinwalker bikers!
3.5 Stars. There were times I felt a tiny bit lost, but ended up still really enjoying this one!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
When I selected this book to read, I didn’t realize it was book 2 in a series. I opted to read it anyway and it was a whole lot of fun.
Now, it doesn’t truly work as a standalone. There are still a few things that I found very confusing. There’s history that, even in the end, I felt like I really didn’t understand.
But…the book is a blast. I ended up loving our characters and getting completely creeped out by some of the imagery. And when the climax of the novel comes, watch out!
The book is fast paced, gruesome, and has werewolf/skinwalker bikers!
3.5 Stars. There were times I felt a tiny bit lost, but ended up still really enjoying this one!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
September 2, 2019
I really enjoyed the first book Red Harvest,
so I was excited to get a copy of the sequel.
Maybe my expectations were too high but this was just an OK read for me. It lacked the momentum of the previous book and the story seemed to jump around too much.
so I was excited to get a copy of the sequel.
Maybe my expectations were too high but this was just an OK read for me. It lacked the momentum of the previous book and the story seemed to jump around too much.
March 14, 2021
After the previous Year's Pumpkin Parade massacre, the town of Ember Hollow has only begun to recover. But the horrors have only just begun as Darkness converges once more with an even more death and destruction.
Reverend McGlaser uncovers a dark secret beneath his church, one that may take his very soul. And a gang of bloodthirsty bikers turned werewolves (yes, you read that correctly!) have a score to settle in town and no one will get in their way.
Would be teenage heroes Stuart and Deshaun, punk rock horror fans, know something real bad is about to go down. And they'll do whatever it takes to prevent the worst from happening!
This lean and mean heartstopper of a horror novel rockets along at a blistering pace. I enjoyed it, although certain aspects could've been fleshed out more. Still, I dug the first book and this one. Look forward to the 3rd installment!
Highly recommended!
Reverend McGlaser uncovers a dark secret beneath his church, one that may take his very soul. And a gang of bloodthirsty bikers turned werewolves (yes, you read that correctly!) have a score to settle in town and no one will get in their way.
Would be teenage heroes Stuart and Deshaun, punk rock horror fans, know something real bad is about to go down. And they'll do whatever it takes to prevent the worst from happening!
This lean and mean heartstopper of a horror novel rockets along at a blistering pace. I enjoyed it, although certain aspects could've been fleshed out more. Still, I dug the first book and this one. Look forward to the 3rd installment!
Highly recommended!
July 31, 2019
I received Grim Harvest (The Haunted Hollow Chronicles #2) through a Goodreads Giveaway.
I'll be honest. There's a lot going on in this book, almost too much. I hadn't read the first book in the series, but that didn't matter when reading Grim Harvest. The author does a wonderful job of updating the reader of all the previous events, and the backstory of the characters.
I loved Grim Harvest, but I only read the chapters that consisted of Jill, Matilda, Candace, and Nico. I quickly began skipping chapters of other characters points of views because their storylines were not as intense as the previously mentioned four, and seemed to honestly get in the way. The other characters could not hold my attention whatsoever, but I can't blame them for that. When compared to the adorable Candace, the brave Matilda, the firecracker Jill, and the devastating Nico the other characters stood no chance.
The storyline is fascinating, I certainly enjoyed seeing the characters all come together for a big showdown. I loved the ending even though it definitely didn't go as I had expected. All in all its a great book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves horror. Or werewolves who ride motorcycles and ruthlessly slaughter those around them.
I'll be honest. There's a lot going on in this book, almost too much. I hadn't read the first book in the series, but that didn't matter when reading Grim Harvest. The author does a wonderful job of updating the reader of all the previous events, and the backstory of the characters.
I loved Grim Harvest, but I only read the chapters that consisted of Jill, Matilda, Candace, and Nico. I quickly began skipping chapters of other characters points of views because their storylines were not as intense as the previously mentioned four, and seemed to honestly get in the way. The other characters could not hold my attention whatsoever, but I can't blame them for that. When compared to the adorable Candace, the brave Matilda, the firecracker Jill, and the devastating Nico the other characters stood no chance.
The storyline is fascinating, I certainly enjoyed seeing the characters all come together for a big showdown. I loved the ending even though it definitely didn't go as I had expected. All in all its a great book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves horror. Or werewolves who ride motorcycles and ruthlessly slaughter those around them.
July 30, 2019
An anarchic blend of the Boy’s Own buzz of Something Wicked This Way Comes and the grown-up horror of your Ramsey Campbell or Clive Barker. This combination is both the book’s strength and its weakness - it tumbles between these viewpoints in a way that sometimes blurs the different characters, but emphasizes the story’s helpless momentum towards its climax. There’s so much context going on that I regret coming to this series midway through rather than at the start. But at the same time, like the best horror, enough of a pseudo-scientific background to make a genuine argument for it. Why yes, James Herbert, rats really could inflict serious harm on the people of London, since there are over seven million rats in the city...
-book supplied courtesy netgalley.com
-book supplied courtesy netgalley.com
August 30, 2019
3.5 Stars
The writing of Grim Harvest has such an easy read quality to it. I was drawn in very quickly to the various plot threads that wove together and I really enjoyed the creepy vibe. It’s a perfect read for the upcoming Fall months. There’s a feeling of unease even as the book starts and it picks up as the story progresses.
The characters were unique individuals. And the creature feature vibe was fun! There was A LOT going on, but it tied together well into a fun finish.
The writing of Grim Harvest has such an easy read quality to it. I was drawn in very quickly to the various plot threads that wove together and I really enjoyed the creepy vibe. It’s a perfect read for the upcoming Fall months. There’s a feeling of unease even as the book starts and it picks up as the story progresses.
The characters were unique individuals. And the creature feature vibe was fun! There was A LOT going on, but it tied together well into a fun finish.
September 10, 2021
Greene mixes strongly connected characters with tropes from multiple flavours of horror to create a tale of a town plagued by evil.
This is the second volume in Greene’s The Haunted Hollow Chronicles. Spoilers ahead, in particular who might survive the first book.
A year ago, supernatural evil turned Ember Hollow’s Pumpkin Parade into an orgy of terror and death. While the mayor and local businesses are determined to make this year’s festival a joyful—and profitable—event, not everyone is sure the evil has gone; and to make matters worse, a new arrival wants to bring it back. Something is definitely wrong in Ember’s Hollow, but is it the past returned or some new horror using their fears as a mask?
The novel is formed of several plots: a werewolf motorcycle gang want to resurrect their leader’s dead lover; two boys decide to investigate when a woman disappears; a priest is plagued by visions of evil; the young sister of a serial killer is bullied by her foster family. Each of the plots has one or two viewpoint characters, resulting in a large and varied primary cast. These plots intersect and re-intersect, both revealing initially disparate threads as part of the same issue and spawning new subplots. Depending on each individual reader’s preference, this werewolf serial-killer domestic-abuse ancient-evil mix seen from multiple perspectives will seem somewhere between an narrative version of individual parade floats forming a sensory extravaganza and a book that tries to tell too many stories in too little space.
The supernatural aspects are a balance of familiar tropes and individual nuance, and are blended with more mundanely human threats, creating contrasts that prevent the horror from starting to feel predictable. As might be expected given the number of threads in the book, Greene errs on the side of showing the horror happening rather than having his protagonists discover all of the underlying nuances; this is likely to suit readers seeking the inexplicable in their magic more than those who like to have an idea of what might solve a problem.
While this novel is the second in a series, Greene puts it forward as standing on its own. In this he is mostly correct as characters—plausibly enough for people recovering from trauma and discussing the way forward—provide sufficient references to past events that ongoing issues or resurgences of past dangers can be put in context: However, like all references to the past, these do not create the same emotional resonance in people who are unfamiliar with actual events as they do in those who observed them; thus, readers who have not read the previous volume might feel more distant from certain events. Combined with the shorter arcs Greene uses for some plot threads, this might even make part of the plot feel a little like a cameo inserted for existing fans rather than a legitimate part of the intertwining events.
With more than one viewpoint character for each of the threads before accounting for intersections, Greene’s cast of major protagonists is large. However, he provides each of them with a clear and realistic voice, making it unlikely readers will become confused over which character they are currently following. This voice is backed by a personality and drives appropriate to the character, creating a range of sympathetic protagonists from plucky children to tired lawmen.
Although less fleshed out than the protagonists, Greene’s non-viewpoint characters display a similar sense of complex internal lives that make them seem like real people rather than stereotypes.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking horror about evil bubbling through wherever and however it can.
I received a free copy from the author with no request for a review.
This is the second volume in Greene’s The Haunted Hollow Chronicles. Spoilers ahead, in particular who might survive the first book.
A year ago, supernatural evil turned Ember Hollow’s Pumpkin Parade into an orgy of terror and death. While the mayor and local businesses are determined to make this year’s festival a joyful—and profitable—event, not everyone is sure the evil has gone; and to make matters worse, a new arrival wants to bring it back. Something is definitely wrong in Ember’s Hollow, but is it the past returned or some new horror using their fears as a mask?
The novel is formed of several plots: a werewolf motorcycle gang want to resurrect their leader’s dead lover; two boys decide to investigate when a woman disappears; a priest is plagued by visions of evil; the young sister of a serial killer is bullied by her foster family. Each of the plots has one or two viewpoint characters, resulting in a large and varied primary cast. These plots intersect and re-intersect, both revealing initially disparate threads as part of the same issue and spawning new subplots. Depending on each individual reader’s preference, this werewolf serial-killer domestic-abuse ancient-evil mix seen from multiple perspectives will seem somewhere between an narrative version of individual parade floats forming a sensory extravaganza and a book that tries to tell too many stories in too little space.
The supernatural aspects are a balance of familiar tropes and individual nuance, and are blended with more mundanely human threats, creating contrasts that prevent the horror from starting to feel predictable. As might be expected given the number of threads in the book, Greene errs on the side of showing the horror happening rather than having his protagonists discover all of the underlying nuances; this is likely to suit readers seeking the inexplicable in their magic more than those who like to have an idea of what might solve a problem.
While this novel is the second in a series, Greene puts it forward as standing on its own. In this he is mostly correct as characters—plausibly enough for people recovering from trauma and discussing the way forward—provide sufficient references to past events that ongoing issues or resurgences of past dangers can be put in context: However, like all references to the past, these do not create the same emotional resonance in people who are unfamiliar with actual events as they do in those who observed them; thus, readers who have not read the previous volume might feel more distant from certain events. Combined with the shorter arcs Greene uses for some plot threads, this might even make part of the plot feel a little like a cameo inserted for existing fans rather than a legitimate part of the intertwining events.
With more than one viewpoint character for each of the threads before accounting for intersections, Greene’s cast of major protagonists is large. However, he provides each of them with a clear and realistic voice, making it unlikely readers will become confused over which character they are currently following. This voice is backed by a personality and drives appropriate to the character, creating a range of sympathetic protagonists from plucky children to tired lawmen.
Although less fleshed out than the protagonists, Greene’s non-viewpoint characters display a similar sense of complex internal lives that make them seem like real people rather than stereotypes.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking horror about evil bubbling through wherever and however it can.
I received a free copy from the author with no request for a review.
August 4, 2020
Well, I am so glad I did not pay for these 3 books.
Yes, they were all free copies from Netgalley for honest reviews. What I thought were going to be very creepy and scary 'Halloween Season themed' they ended up being a drug addicts most incredible drug trip. Dumb, since i don't do drugs. Yes, the first book was really non scary, nor gory as people said in their reviews. This one was even worse than the first. Let's see; werewolves driving harley's, yes, seriously! Then it just got worse and worse. I then started the 3rd one which comes out in September; got 120 pages into it....and DNF'd it! Yes, and I did not care either.
So, that is that. Skip it if your time is worth anything to you......
Yes, they were all free copies from Netgalley for honest reviews. What I thought were going to be very creepy and scary 'Halloween Season themed' they ended up being a drug addicts most incredible drug trip. Dumb, since i don't do drugs. Yes, the first book was really non scary, nor gory as people said in their reviews. This one was even worse than the first. Let's see; werewolves driving harley's, yes, seriously! Then it just got worse and worse. I then started the 3rd one which comes out in September; got 120 pages into it....and DNF'd it! Yes, and I did not care either.
So, that is that. Skip it if your time is worth anything to you......
August 8, 2020
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.
September 5, 2019
Short Take: A too-brief visit with old friends.
(*Note: I received an advance copy of this book for review.*)
Good morning, nerdlings! I am mostly recovered after a late night out at the fair, where I was lucky enough to see Gabriel Iglesias, aka Fluffy live. He put on a fantastic show and my face still hurts (yes, I know, IT’S KILLING YOU) from laughing.
I also have to give a shout-out to local fairs, and all their fun traditions: corn dogs, rigged games, fried oreos, animal smells, cotton candy, rides with questionable safety ratings, and fried cheese on a stick.. Having always lived in a small town, I tend to take fairs for granted, and don’t go to them very much anymore, but it only takes a single whiff of the air to kick me right in the nostalgia-bone.
And speaking of nostalgia for small towns, dearies, welcome back to Ember Hollow, which we first visited in the gloriously Halloween-themed acid trip of Red Harvest. Consider yourselves warned: Grim Harvest is the sequel to Red Harvest and therefore, this review will have many spoilers for the latter. If you haven’t read it yet (dude, what?? Get on that already!), you should probably stop right here.
It’s a year after the Pumpkin Parade Massacre, when Ragdoll Ruth (religious fanatic) and Everett Geelens (psychopathic killer) nearly destroyed the town, killing dozens, injuring even more, and causing untold anguish before being slaughtered themselves.
Among the walking (read: staggering) wounded is Dennis Barcroft, former lead singer of the Chalk Outlines and no-longer-recovering alcoholic. Now, he’s off the wagon and into a ditch, leaving behind the band, his friends, family, and Jill, the love of his life. Dennis’s younger brother Stuart is also suffering from a humiliating condition as a result of last year’s trauma, on top of the usual growing pains of puppy love and pubescent body image issues.
Candace Geelens, Everett’s sister and the only surviving member of their family, is in foster care hell. Reverend McGlazer’s faith is being tested in ever more horrific ways as the unholy presence in the church grows stronger, and secrets from the town’s past threaten to destroy its future.
And if all that weren’t fun enough, Nico Rizzoli, Ragdoll Ruth’s lover and partner in crime, has escaped from prison and is out for revenge. Bloody, gruesome, gory, creative revenge. I mean sure, he could just kill everyone with a gun or knife or chainsaw, but it just so happens that he knows a witch who knows a spell to turn Nico and his biker friends into werewolves for a little extra havoc-wreaking. And maybe, if Nico can figure out just the right spell and sacrifice just the right person, he could even bring Ruth back.
Grim Harvest, as I mentioned, is the second book in the Haunted Hollow series, and it’s my understanding that there will be at least one more. It’s a decent follow up to Red Harvest (which I legit LOVED), but it feels more like the middle of a trilogy than a complete work in and of itself, a bridge between a fabulous introduction and an explosive finale. Other reviewers have mentioned that if you haven’t read the first book, this one is hard to follow, and I can totally see that, but I don’t really count that as a flaw. It’s kind of the nature of a series - if you have no idea that Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider, it makes no sense when he’s swinging on webs.
My issue is more the sense that Grim Harvest is a placeholder between the major parts of the story, instead of a major part itself. Sure, there are a couple of new plot lines and characters that have a complete beginning, middle and end, but our main characters just don’t get much movement. They’re in the book, but it doesn’t feel like they grow or change in any significant way, or even play as much of a role as they did in the first book.
Sure, they go to the places and do the things, but with so many characters and plot lines in barely 200 pages, they just don’t get to breathe the way they deserve to. All of the psychological fallout for each of them is explored in great depth and detail, throughout every scene, and in the end, each of them is fixed with a couple of sentences. It doesn’t feel earned.
One of the best parts of Red Harvest was the way the friends & families interacted with each other, the simple affection and humor that they had, and that feels somewhat lacking here. Even when Stuart and DeShaun are being their obnoxious thirteen year old boy selves, there’s part of Stuart that just can’t relax and enjoy the moment. It’s understandable, but it also undermines a lot of what made Red Harvest so much fun despite its horrific sequences. Ditto the group of punks - their friendship and banter were fantastic last time, and they don’t even really have a conversation this time.
So in the end, I’ll still read the next book, because Mr. Greene has never really let me down. I imagine that he’s got something incredible planned for the finale.
The Nerd’s Rating: THREE HAPPY NEURONS (and some fried fair food cause I’m craving it again already.)
(*Note: I received an advance copy of this book for review.*)
Good morning, nerdlings! I am mostly recovered after a late night out at the fair, where I was lucky enough to see Gabriel Iglesias, aka Fluffy live. He put on a fantastic show and my face still hurts (yes, I know, IT’S KILLING YOU) from laughing.
I also have to give a shout-out to local fairs, and all their fun traditions: corn dogs, rigged games, fried oreos, animal smells, cotton candy, rides with questionable safety ratings, and fried cheese on a stick.. Having always lived in a small town, I tend to take fairs for granted, and don’t go to them very much anymore, but it only takes a single whiff of the air to kick me right in the nostalgia-bone.
And speaking of nostalgia for small towns, dearies, welcome back to Ember Hollow, which we first visited in the gloriously Halloween-themed acid trip of Red Harvest. Consider yourselves warned: Grim Harvest is the sequel to Red Harvest and therefore, this review will have many spoilers for the latter. If you haven’t read it yet (dude, what?? Get on that already!), you should probably stop right here.
It’s a year after the Pumpkin Parade Massacre, when Ragdoll Ruth (religious fanatic) and Everett Geelens (psychopathic killer) nearly destroyed the town, killing dozens, injuring even more, and causing untold anguish before being slaughtered themselves.
Among the walking (read: staggering) wounded is Dennis Barcroft, former lead singer of the Chalk Outlines and no-longer-recovering alcoholic. Now, he’s off the wagon and into a ditch, leaving behind the band, his friends, family, and Jill, the love of his life. Dennis’s younger brother Stuart is also suffering from a humiliating condition as a result of last year’s trauma, on top of the usual growing pains of puppy love and pubescent body image issues.
Candace Geelens, Everett’s sister and the only surviving member of their family, is in foster care hell. Reverend McGlazer’s faith is being tested in ever more horrific ways as the unholy presence in the church grows stronger, and secrets from the town’s past threaten to destroy its future.
And if all that weren’t fun enough, Nico Rizzoli, Ragdoll Ruth’s lover and partner in crime, has escaped from prison and is out for revenge. Bloody, gruesome, gory, creative revenge. I mean sure, he could just kill everyone with a gun or knife or chainsaw, but it just so happens that he knows a witch who knows a spell to turn Nico and his biker friends into werewolves for a little extra havoc-wreaking. And maybe, if Nico can figure out just the right spell and sacrifice just the right person, he could even bring Ruth back.
Grim Harvest, as I mentioned, is the second book in the Haunted Hollow series, and it’s my understanding that there will be at least one more. It’s a decent follow up to Red Harvest (which I legit LOVED), but it feels more like the middle of a trilogy than a complete work in and of itself, a bridge between a fabulous introduction and an explosive finale. Other reviewers have mentioned that if you haven’t read the first book, this one is hard to follow, and I can totally see that, but I don’t really count that as a flaw. It’s kind of the nature of a series - if you have no idea that Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider, it makes no sense when he’s swinging on webs.
My issue is more the sense that Grim Harvest is a placeholder between the major parts of the story, instead of a major part itself. Sure, there are a couple of new plot lines and characters that have a complete beginning, middle and end, but our main characters just don’t get much movement. They’re in the book, but it doesn’t feel like they grow or change in any significant way, or even play as much of a role as they did in the first book.
Sure, they go to the places and do the things, but with so many characters and plot lines in barely 200 pages, they just don’t get to breathe the way they deserve to. All of the psychological fallout for each of them is explored in great depth and detail, throughout every scene, and in the end, each of them is fixed with a couple of sentences. It doesn’t feel earned.
One of the best parts of Red Harvest was the way the friends & families interacted with each other, the simple affection and humor that they had, and that feels somewhat lacking here. Even when Stuart and DeShaun are being their obnoxious thirteen year old boy selves, there’s part of Stuart that just can’t relax and enjoy the moment. It’s understandable, but it also undermines a lot of what made Red Harvest so much fun despite its horrific sequences. Ditto the group of punks - their friendship and banter were fantastic last time, and they don’t even really have a conversation this time.
So in the end, I’ll still read the next book, because Mr. Greene has never really let me down. I imagine that he’s got something incredible planned for the finale.
The Nerd’s Rating: THREE HAPPY NEURONS (and some fried fair food cause I’m craving it again already.)
September 24, 2019
There is a violent biker gang going to town with a spell from the local witch that will turn his gang into werewolves. Why? The leader of the gang also has plans on resurrecting a mass murderess as he needs her help. Candace is in a foster home where her foster parents are not helping her get over a trauma she experienced. She is scared that her brother will return from the dead and kill her. Will he? Her two friends Deshaun and Stuart are determined to keep her safe and alive. The local minister has been sobered for some time but now is suddenly tempted with several bottles of his favorite alcohol. Will he be able to resist this temptation?
It’s a novel with several characters that are all being challenged for good or evil. The fascinating characters with powerful conflicts made this a book a must-read for me. It is a horror story with surprising and satisfying twists. It is a suspenseful, well-told and imaginative story though also a grisly reflection on human nature. I didn’t read the first story as I didn’t know this was the “second” book of this series. I think that you can enjoy it without reading the first book but I am going to read the first one.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
It’s a novel with several characters that are all being challenged for good or evil. The fascinating characters with powerful conflicts made this a book a must-read for me. It is a horror story with surprising and satisfying twists. It is a suspenseful, well-told and imaginative story though also a grisly reflection on human nature. I didn’t read the first story as I didn’t know this was the “second” book of this series. I think that you can enjoy it without reading the first book but I am going to read the first one.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
July 28, 2019
There was a lot going on in this book, so gob help you if you missed even a couple of sentences.
*werewolves
*actual supernatural coming back from the dead type stuff
*biker gang - see above werewolves
*hallucinogens
*foster kids in a family that are tangentially and then directly related to the plot
*alcoholism
*two kids playing cop that end up actually helping
*loveless marriages
The plot itself isn't bad, I think there are just too many moving parts altogether, and not enough plot development in other areas. The werewolf biker gang? Could have been ditched altogether while still having some hopped up revenge driven dude coming back to town to avenge his lady love, thus kicking off all the subsequent events. The true shining horror of this story was a tiny little 10 page blip called Everett that could have been turned into a true psychological mind f, and gore fest. The start was there, and then, before anything truly bad could happen, well. Read it yourself. The overall book wasn't bad, I enjoyed reading it, the whole cursed town is getting jacked up again on the one year anniversary is an appealing plot, I'm just sad that the one truly scary part of the book was so short lived.
*werewolves
*actual supernatural coming back from the dead type stuff
*biker gang - see above werewolves
*hallucinogens
*foster kids in a family that are tangentially and then directly related to the plot
*alcoholism
*two kids playing cop that end up actually helping
*loveless marriages
The plot itself isn't bad, I think there are just too many moving parts altogether, and not enough plot development in other areas. The werewolf biker gang? Could have been ditched altogether while still having some hopped up revenge driven dude coming back to town to avenge his lady love, thus kicking off all the subsequent events. The true shining horror of this story was a tiny little 10 page blip called Everett that could have been turned into a true psychological mind f, and gore fest. The start was there, and then, before anything truly bad could happen, well. Read it yourself. The overall book wasn't bad, I enjoyed reading it, the whole cursed town is getting jacked up again on the one year anniversary is an appealing plot, I'm just sad that the one truly scary part of the book was so short lived.
August 30, 2019
Grim Harvest by Patrick C. Greene is the second book in The Haunted Hollow Chronicles but can be read as a standalone novel. There is some history to the characters that spill over into the second book, but I did not feel like I missed anything major by not having read the first book. Although, I enjoyed this one so much I will read the first one to make sure I catch up on all the characters and their development!
It’s filled with the supernatural, fantastical animals, magic, a fair amount of scary stuff and some truly likeable, relatable characters!
The story flows smoothly, and even though there are a number of influential characters, it’s easy to keep track of them and their actions.
I would reccomend this to readers who love this genre.
#netgalley #grimharvest #patrickcgreene
It’s filled with the supernatural, fantastical animals, magic, a fair amount of scary stuff and some truly likeable, relatable characters!
The story flows smoothly, and even though there are a number of influential characters, it’s easy to keep track of them and their actions.
I would reccomend this to readers who love this genre.
#netgalley #grimharvest #patrickcgreene
September 19, 2019
A Perfect Read For Halloween!
I loved Red Harvest, so I was delighted to snag a copy of the sequel. I wasn't disappointed. The elements that made the first book of the series a great read are here again. The characters are interesting and the plot blends the criminal and the supernatural very well. The story's suspense begins building at once and will keep you turning pages.
This second book has a deeper undertone of sadness for those who survived the shocking events of last year's Pumpkin Parade. Life has moved on in the small town, though a few are struggling more than others. Friends and lovers have been separated, bad habits are causing some to stumble, and more trouble is coming for them all.
Now, I have to wait for the third book!
I loved Red Harvest, so I was delighted to snag a copy of the sequel. I wasn't disappointed. The elements that made the first book of the series a great read are here again. The characters are interesting and the plot blends the criminal and the supernatural very well. The story's suspense begins building at once and will keep you turning pages.
This second book has a deeper undertone of sadness for those who survived the shocking events of last year's Pumpkin Parade. Life has moved on in the small town, though a few are struggling more than others. Friends and lovers have been separated, bad habits are causing some to stumble, and more trouble is coming for them all.
Now, I have to wait for the third book!
September 3, 2019
You have to read Red Harvest first, part one of the trilogy, to get the full enriched reading experience.
Grim Harvest being the second book in the trilogy does not simply move the story along so one can get to the final book. Grim Harvest is a crazy thrill ride thru bizarre situations, shocking violence and old favorite characters we've come to love. Highly recommended and I can't wait for the third book. Keep an eye on Patrick C. Greene, folks!
Grim Harvest being the second book in the trilogy does not simply move the story along so one can get to the final book. Grim Harvest is a crazy thrill ride thru bizarre situations, shocking violence and old favorite characters we've come to love. Highly recommended and I can't wait for the third book. Keep an eye on Patrick C. Greene, folks!
September 7, 2019
I won this book on Goodreads (Kindle version) for an honest review.
I found this book to be well written, gripping and thrilling. A spooky tale that would be great if told around the campfire or turned into a movie for halloween. The characters are believable and you find yourself rooting for them. The setting is realistic and dark. I recommend for those that enjoy a true thrill ride.
I found this book to be well written, gripping and thrilling. A spooky tale that would be great if told around the campfire or turned into a movie for halloween. The characters are believable and you find yourself rooting for them. The setting is realistic and dark. I recommend for those that enjoy a true thrill ride.
July 30, 2019
First time I have read from this author and it wasn’t a bad book. Not my normal genre so it had a little too much going on for me to really enjoy it, but that could be because it was not my usual style.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this.
August 29, 2019
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.. This book took a long time to get going and I had the feeling I was missing something.. Apparently it's the second book, and not a standalone..
January 7, 2020
I actually liked this one better than red harvest. I still wish there weren’t so many POVS but I’m glad more supernatural elements were brought in. This book actually reminds me of some of the 80s horror movies!
September 3, 2019
This is one creepy book!!
September 6, 2019
I received this arc from Netgalley.
This is the first book that I have read by this author. It was an okay read, nothing special. I'm not sure if I'll read anything else by this author.
This is the first book that I have read by this author. It was an okay read, nothing special. I'm not sure if I'll read anything else by this author.
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