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When the Night Bells Ring
Don't awaken what sleeps in the dark.
In a future ravaged by fire and drought, two climate refugees ride their motorcycles across the wasteland of the western US, and stumble upon an old silver mine. Descending into the cool darkness of the caved-in tunnels in desperate search of water, the two women find Lavinia Cain’s diary, a settler in search of prosperity who brought her family to Nevada in the late 1860s.
But Lavinia and the settlers of the Western town discovered something monstrous that dwells in the depths of the mine, something that does not want greedy prospectors disturbing the earth. Whispers of curses and phantom figures haunt the diary, and now, over 150 years later, trapped and injured in the abandoned mine, the women discover they’re not alone . . . with no easy way out.
The monsters are still here—and they’re thirsty.
In a future ravaged by fire and drought, two climate refugees ride their motorcycles across the wasteland of the western US, and stumble upon an old silver mine. Descending into the cool darkness of the caved-in tunnels in desperate search of water, the two women find Lavinia Cain’s diary, a settler in search of prosperity who brought her family to Nevada in the late 1860s.
But Lavinia and the settlers of the Western town discovered something monstrous that dwells in the depths of the mine, something that does not want greedy prospectors disturbing the earth. Whispers of curses and phantom figures haunt the diary, and now, over 150 years later, trapped and injured in the abandoned mine, the women discover they’re not alone . . . with no easy way out.
The monsters are still here—and they’re thirsty.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2022
38 people are currently reading
9542 people want to read
About the author
Jo Kaplan
25 books166 followersJo Kaplan is the Shirley Jackson Award nominated author of It Will Just Be Us and When the Night Bells Ring. Her short stories have appeared in Fireside Quarterly, Black Static, Nightmare Magazine, Vastarien, Horror Library, Nightscript, and Bram Stoker award winning anthologies. She has also published work as Joanna Parypinski. In addition to writing, she teaches English and creative writing at Glendale Community College and plays cello in the band Guerra/paz. You can find her on social media @joannapary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
August 12, 2022
Are you a fan of things that go bump in the night? Then settle in kiddies because I've got a story for you.
In the near future and in the wake of a climate catastrophe that has left the west coast ablaze Mads and Waynoka set out on their motorcycles to head to the east coast, New York, where they've heard there is promise of a better life without blazing infernos destroying all that is around them. They make it as far as Virgil, Nevada where they stumble upon a derelict mining town. Taking shelter in an abandoned shanty to stay out of the relentless, blazing sun they come up with an idea to head into the mine in hopes of finding water. Their thirst too much to ignore any longer.
"In the deep underground, footsteps give way to ghosts. Panic gives way to fog. Darkness to Darkness. A dull throb aches through the hollows of fear, muted but insistent, and the body shambles forward even while it screams that forward is the wrong way to go."
Once in the mine an accident leaves Mads incapacitated leaving Waynoka to figure out how to get them out of there. Thankfully they do find water but with it they also find a bed, a doll, and a diary. It appears they aren't alone. While Mads sleeps away her pain, fever, and likely infection Waynoka reads the diary hoping to find some answers.
The timeline then goes back and forth with the current situation and the diary entries.
The diary is written by Lavinia back in 1869. Her and her husband, John Henry, and their two children make the trek from Boston to Virgil at the bequest of John Henry's brother Emery but once they arrive in the town it appears they are unwelcome and no one will speak to them about Emery or where he may be. They find an abandoned cabin to set up home and John Henry gets a job working at the mine. Lavinia notices that every home and every business has a bell above their doors and out of curiosity she asks why that is and the answer is: Los Fantasmas.
The town believes the mine is cursed and that it's a gateway to hell in which demons escape and feed on the souls of the townsfolk. Bodies are found covered in pin pricks and drained of blood with no other explanation than the supernatural.
"Strange Lady, Strange Lady, What do you eat?
She comes in the night and pricks Father's feet!
Strange Lady, Strange Lady Why do you thirst?
She'll never be slaked
For she has been cursed!"
Talk about atmosphere. Jo Kaplan nailed it. I honestly felt panicky while reading some scenes that take place in the mine. I'm claustrophobic so the idea of being in total darkness, navigating narrow tunnels, sometimes having to crawl in order to get to where you need to go is one of my worst nightmares. The fact that you aren't alone and you can feel someone else breathing right next to you even though you can't see them takes my worst nightmare to a whole 'nother level.
I'm also happy to report that both timelines are equally compelling and I find that rarely happens. I couldn't wait to get back to each of them when one ended that's how enthralled I was with this one.
The ending was perfection. Highly recommend! 5 stars!
Thank you to Edelweiss and CamCat Books for my complimentary copy.
In the near future and in the wake of a climate catastrophe that has left the west coast ablaze Mads and Waynoka set out on their motorcycles to head to the east coast, New York, where they've heard there is promise of a better life without blazing infernos destroying all that is around them. They make it as far as Virgil, Nevada where they stumble upon a derelict mining town. Taking shelter in an abandoned shanty to stay out of the relentless, blazing sun they come up with an idea to head into the mine in hopes of finding water. Their thirst too much to ignore any longer.
"In the deep underground, footsteps give way to ghosts. Panic gives way to fog. Darkness to Darkness. A dull throb aches through the hollows of fear, muted but insistent, and the body shambles forward even while it screams that forward is the wrong way to go."
Once in the mine an accident leaves Mads incapacitated leaving Waynoka to figure out how to get them out of there. Thankfully they do find water but with it they also find a bed, a doll, and a diary. It appears they aren't alone. While Mads sleeps away her pain, fever, and likely infection Waynoka reads the diary hoping to find some answers.
The timeline then goes back and forth with the current situation and the diary entries.
The diary is written by Lavinia back in 1869. Her and her husband, John Henry, and their two children make the trek from Boston to Virgil at the bequest of John Henry's brother Emery but once they arrive in the town it appears they are unwelcome and no one will speak to them about Emery or where he may be. They find an abandoned cabin to set up home and John Henry gets a job working at the mine. Lavinia notices that every home and every business has a bell above their doors and out of curiosity she asks why that is and the answer is: Los Fantasmas.
The town believes the mine is cursed and that it's a gateway to hell in which demons escape and feed on the souls of the townsfolk. Bodies are found covered in pin pricks and drained of blood with no other explanation than the supernatural.
"Strange Lady, Strange Lady, What do you eat?
She comes in the night and pricks Father's feet!
Strange Lady, Strange Lady Why do you thirst?
She'll never be slaked
For she has been cursed!"
Talk about atmosphere. Jo Kaplan nailed it. I honestly felt panicky while reading some scenes that take place in the mine. I'm claustrophobic so the idea of being in total darkness, navigating narrow tunnels, sometimes having to crawl in order to get to where you need to go is one of my worst nightmares. The fact that you aren't alone and you can feel someone else breathing right next to you even though you can't see them takes my worst nightmare to a whole 'nother level.
I'm also happy to report that both timelines are equally compelling and I find that rarely happens. I couldn't wait to get back to each of them when one ended that's how enthralled I was with this one.
The ending was perfection. Highly recommend! 5 stars!
Thank you to Edelweiss and CamCat Books for my complimentary copy.
September 29, 2022
Ooh scary – not!
The synopsis of When the Night Bells Ring appealed to me so much. Dystopian North America, a ghost town, a supernatural presence in an abandoned mine, the American West during the height of the gold rush – one of my favourite eras, not to mention gothic tones.
In the near future climate catastrophe has brought on the apocalypse. Following the Great Valley Fire, Mads and Waynoka have fled Los Angeles in search of a more stable environment on the East Coast. They stop to rest in Virgil, Nevada. Upon realising it was once a thriving mining town, they venture deep into the mine in search of a water source. An accident leaves Mads injured, cutting off their only exit route. They are trapped way beneath the surface! Then, Waynoka finds a diary, first entry dated July 26th, 1869. It tells the story of Lavinia, her husband, and two children, newly arrived in Virgil. Lavinia immediately notices there is something off about the town. And, as it turns out, she is right to be worried. Because there is something truly evil lurking in the mine. And, Waynoka and Mads are about discover that it’s still there.
Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? I had such high hopes for this horror read only to have them dashed. My main issue was the writing. Both timelines felt rushed, and lacked tension or suspense. Consequently, I never felt creeped out or unperturbed, let alone scared. It also meant I failed to connect with any of the characters, and wasn’t emotionally invested. I also had an issue with the diary entries as there was too much telling and not enough showing. When Lavinia writes about a young couple she met upon arriving in Virgil as ‘acting oddly’ and ‘they seemed spooked’ does nothing for me. I want that conversation relayed, so I can witness their body language and facial expressions for myself. Heaps of authors include diary entries that read like flashbacks, or start as diary entries and then morph into flashbacks. This entire novel just left too much to the imagination. No spooky or gothic vibes whatsoever.
Writing is subjective though, and When the Night Bells Ring has received rave reviews, and freaked readers out. Maybe the audiobook will work better? If you do decide to try it, I hope it’s a winner. For me, this was not a great start for my first lead-up-to-Halloween read.
I’ll like to thank Edelweiss, CamCat Books, and Jo Kaplan for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 11th October, 2022.
The synopsis of When the Night Bells Ring appealed to me so much. Dystopian North America, a ghost town, a supernatural presence in an abandoned mine, the American West during the height of the gold rush – one of my favourite eras, not to mention gothic tones.
In the near future climate catastrophe has brought on the apocalypse. Following the Great Valley Fire, Mads and Waynoka have fled Los Angeles in search of a more stable environment on the East Coast. They stop to rest in Virgil, Nevada. Upon realising it was once a thriving mining town, they venture deep into the mine in search of a water source. An accident leaves Mads injured, cutting off their only exit route. They are trapped way beneath the surface! Then, Waynoka finds a diary, first entry dated July 26th, 1869. It tells the story of Lavinia, her husband, and two children, newly arrived in Virgil. Lavinia immediately notices there is something off about the town. And, as it turns out, she is right to be worried. Because there is something truly evil lurking in the mine. And, Waynoka and Mads are about discover that it’s still there.
Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? I had such high hopes for this horror read only to have them dashed. My main issue was the writing. Both timelines felt rushed, and lacked tension or suspense. Consequently, I never felt creeped out or unperturbed, let alone scared. It also meant I failed to connect with any of the characters, and wasn’t emotionally invested. I also had an issue with the diary entries as there was too much telling and not enough showing. When Lavinia writes about a young couple she met upon arriving in Virgil as ‘acting oddly’ and ‘they seemed spooked’ does nothing for me. I want that conversation relayed, so I can witness their body language and facial expressions for myself. Heaps of authors include diary entries that read like flashbacks, or start as diary entries and then morph into flashbacks. This entire novel just left too much to the imagination. No spooky or gothic vibes whatsoever.
Writing is subjective though, and When the Night Bells Ring has received rave reviews, and freaked readers out. Maybe the audiobook will work better? If you do decide to try it, I hope it’s a winner. For me, this was not a great start for my first lead-up-to-Halloween read.
I’ll like to thank Edelweiss, CamCat Books, and Jo Kaplan for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 11th October, 2022.
October 11, 2022
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
“Do you . . . want to survive?”
Sometime in the near future, Madelyn ‘Mads’ De La Cruz and Waynoka embark on a journey from California to New York by motorcycle in order to escape the ravages of climate change.
With the promise of a more inhabitable landscape, a few meager supplies on their back, and each other, Mads and Waynoka vow to make a better life for themselves.
However, the duo only make it as far as desolate Virgil, Nevada before their thirst and need to find water overtakes them. “The decay was palpable, apocalyptic; the air smelled like the death of civilization.”
Finding an abandoned mine, they believe they have just struck gold, as water must lay in its belly. But when Mads injures her knee and the way out is lost, they must search for an alternative exit.
Slowly making their way through the winding tunnels, Waynoka finds a diary in a small chamber. It was written in 1869 by a woman named Lavinia Cain. She reads the diary in order to pass the time while Mads rests and to aid in the search for clues out of the mine.
But soon it becomes evident that the two women are not alone.
What strange creatures lie in the mine’s depths? Is it cursed? How will Mads and Waynoka escape?
Told in two timelines, The Dust Devils and Lavinia’s Diary, this atmospheric and claustrophobic cautionary tale questions man’s desire to conquer at all costs. Through curses, supernatural interference, and superstition, both Lavinia and Waynoka uncover the secrets of Virgil as well as the true nature of mankind.
With Oregon Trail vibes of the past and a haunting message for the future, Jo Kaplan delivers another fantastic horror plot.
Here are a few poignant lines that demonstrate Kaplan’s remarkable use of language:
“What a miracle was water, in a drought-ravaged place. Something unspoiled and cool in a warming world choking on its own pollution.”
“Everyone is alive before they are dead”
“Death . . . is the curse of man.” The animal . . . does not fear death. The trees do not . . . know death. Man may wield death in his hands to feel strong . . . but even he knows what will become of him . . . in the end.”
Kaplan is truly a fantastic writer. Both It Will Just Be Us and When the Night Bells Ring are phenomenal works of fiction. If you are looking for something spooky this Halloween, I highly recommend this author!
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Expected publication date: 10/11/22
Thank you to Edelweiss and CamCat publishing for the ARC of When the Night Bells Ring in exchange for an honest review.
“Do you . . . want to survive?”
Sometime in the near future, Madelyn ‘Mads’ De La Cruz and Waynoka embark on a journey from California to New York by motorcycle in order to escape the ravages of climate change.
With the promise of a more inhabitable landscape, a few meager supplies on their back, and each other, Mads and Waynoka vow to make a better life for themselves.
However, the duo only make it as far as desolate Virgil, Nevada before their thirst and need to find water overtakes them. “The decay was palpable, apocalyptic; the air smelled like the death of civilization.”
Finding an abandoned mine, they believe they have just struck gold, as water must lay in its belly. But when Mads injures her knee and the way out is lost, they must search for an alternative exit.
Slowly making their way through the winding tunnels, Waynoka finds a diary in a small chamber. It was written in 1869 by a woman named Lavinia Cain. She reads the diary in order to pass the time while Mads rests and to aid in the search for clues out of the mine.
But soon it becomes evident that the two women are not alone.
What strange creatures lie in the mine’s depths? Is it cursed? How will Mads and Waynoka escape?
Told in two timelines, The Dust Devils and Lavinia’s Diary, this atmospheric and claustrophobic cautionary tale questions man’s desire to conquer at all costs. Through curses, supernatural interference, and superstition, both Lavinia and Waynoka uncover the secrets of Virgil as well as the true nature of mankind.
With Oregon Trail vibes of the past and a haunting message for the future, Jo Kaplan delivers another fantastic horror plot.
Here are a few poignant lines that demonstrate Kaplan’s remarkable use of language:
“What a miracle was water, in a drought-ravaged place. Something unspoiled and cool in a warming world choking on its own pollution.”
“Everyone is alive before they are dead”
“Death . . . is the curse of man.” The animal . . . does not fear death. The trees do not . . . know death. Man may wield death in his hands to feel strong . . . but even he knows what will become of him . . . in the end.”
Kaplan is truly a fantastic writer. Both It Will Just Be Us and When the Night Bells Ring are phenomenal works of fiction. If you are looking for something spooky this Halloween, I highly recommend this author!
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Expected publication date: 10/11/22
Thank you to Edelweiss and CamCat publishing for the ARC of When the Night Bells Ring in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2022
3.5 stars
This is a well written, but perhaps quite traditional horror story. Historical horror is not typically my subgenre yet I was pleasantly surprised how digestible this story was to consume. The writing felt quite modern with a good narrative pace. I liked this one despite not being entirely to my tastes. If you love this subgenre of horror, than I would recommend this one.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This is a well written, but perhaps quite traditional horror story. Historical horror is not typically my subgenre yet I was pleasantly surprised how digestible this story was to consume. The writing felt quite modern with a good narrative pace. I liked this one despite not being entirely to my tastes. If you love this subgenre of horror, than I would recommend this one.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
May 31, 2023
This book surprised me. Not with its actual surprises, I thought those were all mostly pretty obvious. No, but with how much I liked this in the end. Because like I just said, I feel like this book doesn't really pull a twist or anything shocking on you. When the characters realize things, I was already there. There is also one thing about how this is narrated that for the longest time really bothered me. So, we have dual time lines. Two narrators, one (Waynoka) in the "main" time line which is a climate ravaged near future US, the other one (Lavinia) is the writer of a diary in a frontier town in 1869. Waynoka ends up reading Lavinia's diary and at first I couldn't get on board how she is in a dire survival situation and ends up reading a book. They are stuck underground in a deserted mine, without water and food, injured, and you pick up this diary over and over again as a little escape??? At first I was annoyed by that, no matter if I understood what Kaplan was trying to do with the parallel narratives, no matter if she tries to explain that the characters need to take a rest and she might as well read, no matter how later on she thought she could get vital information from the diary. I just didn't buy that someone would do that with time literary ticking down. But then I developed a theory that I am not 100% is intended but for me it made more sense that way, and I will explain more at the end of this review (spoiler warning, for real). But with that I see this as a 4*, without more in the 3* territory.
Generally what I liked most was the atmospheric writing. This is for sure more of a slow burn, I think the dual timeline adds to that since you need to get settled into both scenarios. While I was hoping for stronger "The Descent" vibes I quite liked what I got. The scenes in the mines have a claustrophobic feel, it's dark and there is no way out, and once Waynoka starts wondering whether they might not be alone down there, it adds to the tension building. The historic storyline takes a bit longer to get into it but I actually liked the haunting vibes that were slowly created. In Lavinia's storyline you started feeling a different sense of isolation, she is not trapped underground but trapped alone with a husband always at work and town that doesn't welcome her. And then there might be creatures out in the dark, shadows behind the cacti, the bells ringing in the dead of night. I really liked Kaplan's writing, she made you feel the empty nights with moving shadows, the ghost stories being told in town, the mystery as to whether the miners have awoken something in the deep. I am not often one for the slow build but I got steadily sucked into theses stories. Don't come for the scares, come for the atmosphere.
When it comes to creatures I will not reveal anything here, just that I liked them. It takes long for them to show up and they are never at the forefront of this, it's always more about the characters and their fears and their overwhelm. But theses creatures have some neat things about them, they are familiar but done in a slightly different way which I quite liked. Especially when it comes their looks!
Both storylines have a feeling of a down spiral, each situation gradually builds more dread, more desperation. One could ask for more action or scares but it's just not that kind of story. We follow lost women in lonely places facing a threat and I was here for that journey. Additionally, this makes me want to read all the cave Horror AND desert Horror AND frontier times Horror. It was a vibe, it could have pushed a bit more, leave some bite marks, but I honestly didn't mind. I liked what was delivered. The ending is strong, and for me opened up doors.
And now how I interpret a novel that I am not sure needs interpretation: .
"These creatures are not fully human, yet I believe we share this impulse. They are human enough for evil."
Generally what I liked most was the atmospheric writing. This is for sure more of a slow burn, I think the dual timeline adds to that since you need to get settled into both scenarios. While I was hoping for stronger "The Descent" vibes I quite liked what I got. The scenes in the mines have a claustrophobic feel, it's dark and there is no way out, and once Waynoka starts wondering whether they might not be alone down there, it adds to the tension building. The historic storyline takes a bit longer to get into it but I actually liked the haunting vibes that were slowly created. In Lavinia's storyline you started feeling a different sense of isolation, she is not trapped underground but trapped alone with a husband always at work and town that doesn't welcome her. And then there might be creatures out in the dark, shadows behind the cacti, the bells ringing in the dead of night. I really liked Kaplan's writing, she made you feel the empty nights with moving shadows, the ghost stories being told in town, the mystery as to whether the miners have awoken something in the deep. I am not often one for the slow build but I got steadily sucked into theses stories. Don't come for the scares, come for the atmosphere.
When it comes to creatures I will not reveal anything here, just that I liked them. It takes long for them to show up and they are never at the forefront of this, it's always more about the characters and their fears and their overwhelm. But theses creatures have some neat things about them, they are familiar but done in a slightly different way which I quite liked. Especially when it comes their looks!
Both storylines have a feeling of a down spiral, each situation gradually builds more dread, more desperation. One could ask for more action or scares but it's just not that kind of story. We follow lost women in lonely places facing a threat and I was here for that journey. Additionally, this makes me want to read all the cave Horror AND desert Horror AND frontier times Horror. It was a vibe, it could have pushed a bit more, leave some bite marks, but I honestly didn't mind. I liked what was delivered. The ending is strong, and for me opened up doors.
And now how I interpret a novel that I am not sure needs interpretation: .
"These creatures are not fully human, yet I believe we share this impulse. They are human enough for evil."
October 11, 2022
Full review in the October 2022 issue of LJ and on the blog. https://raforall.blogspot.com/2022/10... [link live 10/12/22]
Three Words That Describe This Book: dual time frame, constant unease, western, ancient evil and Cli-Fi tropes
Draft Review:
“Dust Devils,” Waynoka and Mads, are traversing a near future, climate disaster landscape in Nevada, searching for shelter and water in a barren desert when they stumble upon a Silver Rush era ghost town. After bedding down for the night, they explore the abandoned mine for a possible source of freshwater, but when Mads is badly injured on the descent, the two women are forced to shelter in a natural cave where they discover the diary of Livinia, a resident of the town back in 1869. What follows is a harrowing story of survival, told in two-time frames– Waynoka as she searches the tunnels in an attempt to find both water and escape and Livinia’s diary entries which unveil the monstrous truth hidden deep within the land itself. The constant unease of each storyline is broken only for the brief second it takes to turn the page from one narration to the next, as the tension builds relentlessly until the novel’s shockingly horrific conclusion.
Verdict: Seamlessly blending Western, Ancient Evil, and Climate Horror tropes Kaplan has created an immersive, chilling, and compelling tale that fans of Christina Henry and Camilla Sten will devour.
Three Words That Describe This Book: dual time frame, constant unease, western, ancient evil and Cli-Fi tropes
Draft Review:
“Dust Devils,” Waynoka and Mads, are traversing a near future, climate disaster landscape in Nevada, searching for shelter and water in a barren desert when they stumble upon a Silver Rush era ghost town. After bedding down for the night, they explore the abandoned mine for a possible source of freshwater, but when Mads is badly injured on the descent, the two women are forced to shelter in a natural cave where they discover the diary of Livinia, a resident of the town back in 1869. What follows is a harrowing story of survival, told in two-time frames– Waynoka as she searches the tunnels in an attempt to find both water and escape and Livinia’s diary entries which unveil the monstrous truth hidden deep within the land itself. The constant unease of each storyline is broken only for the brief second it takes to turn the page from one narration to the next, as the tension builds relentlessly until the novel’s shockingly horrific conclusion.
Verdict: Seamlessly blending Western, Ancient Evil, and Climate Horror tropes Kaplan has created an immersive, chilling, and compelling tale that fans of Christina Henry and Camilla Sten will devour.
August 20, 2022
Loved the dual narrative of Lavinia (through a diary dated in the late 1860s) and the dust devils (Mads and Waynoka, 150 years later). The earth is ravaged by fire and drought and through venturing into a mine in search of water, the dust devils hit barrier after barrier on their hunt to survive. They also find Lavinia diary and learn of the mine and mining towns haunting past, and present, and what survival really means. It was the perfect mix of suspense and creepy, leaving you wanting to know more, mixed with shocking moments. Amazing writing and telling of this unique story!
August 5, 2022
Jo Kaplan has fashioned an experience like none other, where forgotten curses and future terrors collide. Highly recommended for horror fans whose TBRs consist of VanderMeer-worthy climate disaster novels and the creepiest of creature features, reading When the Night Bells Ring is like slinking through a mine shaft with only a single, dying flashlight to rely on… while behind you, the sound of footsteps—and the tinkling of bells—grows ever-louder.
October 5, 2023
So I absolutely love the way that Kaplan Writes. I adored, "It will be us," and when I saw a book tour for this novel, I knew that I had to read and review it! And I am so happy that I did. This is yet another phenomenal tale, Kaplan is truly an amazing storyteller.
"Deeper and deeper. In the deep underground, footsteps give way to ghosts.
Panic gives way to fog. Darkness to darkness. A dull throb aches through the hollows of fear, muted but insistent, and the body shambles forward even while it screams that forward is the wrong way to go."
'When the night bells ring ' is told in duel timelines. In the present time, we find ourselves in a post-apocalyptic world ravished by drought. We follow two of the MCs, who are known as "climate refugees," as they desperately seek shelter and water. They stumble upon an old mining town and think that perhaps the answer to their prayers and thirst may lie deep within the old mines. That just maybe, in its depths, there is much needed water. Unfortunately for them, the mine may hold something else, too.
The other timeline we follow is that of Lavinia and her spouse and children. They have come to this town after receiving word from a relative of its bounty and benefits. Upon arrival, they find a town literally on its last rope. Not only that, there is talk of a deep malevolence within the mines. What should have been their second chance slowly dissolves into utter despair. I will admit my one tiny complaint with this book is Lavinia, I found her character to be insufferable at times, I didn't quite care for the way she treated her children and I questioned her maternal abilities quite frequently.
"Yet, as I’ve said, the mine drew me, as if it breathed me in; moths do destroy themselves against an open flame, and perhaps it is people who do the same when they hear the siren song of darkness."
If you enjoy folklore, creature features, and don't mind some serious Bathophobia, then I highly recommend this book. This book had me in a constant state of fear and discomfort, I can't even begin to imagine living through the horrors that our MCs endured! Kaplan nailed the atmosphere with this one, so creepy and so good!!!!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"Deeper and deeper. In the deep underground, footsteps give way to ghosts.
Panic gives way to fog. Darkness to darkness. A dull throb aches through the hollows of fear, muted but insistent, and the body shambles forward even while it screams that forward is the wrong way to go."
'When the night bells ring ' is told in duel timelines. In the present time, we find ourselves in a post-apocalyptic world ravished by drought. We follow two of the MCs, who are known as "climate refugees," as they desperately seek shelter and water. They stumble upon an old mining town and think that perhaps the answer to their prayers and thirst may lie deep within the old mines. That just maybe, in its depths, there is much needed water. Unfortunately for them, the mine may hold something else, too.
The other timeline we follow is that of Lavinia and her spouse and children. They have come to this town after receiving word from a relative of its bounty and benefits. Upon arrival, they find a town literally on its last rope. Not only that, there is talk of a deep malevolence within the mines. What should have been their second chance slowly dissolves into utter despair. I will admit my one tiny complaint with this book is Lavinia, I found her character to be insufferable at times, I didn't quite care for the way she treated her children and I questioned her maternal abilities quite frequently.
"Yet, as I’ve said, the mine drew me, as if it breathed me in; moths do destroy themselves against an open flame, and perhaps it is people who do the same when they hear the siren song of darkness."
If you enjoy folklore, creature features, and don't mind some serious Bathophobia, then I highly recommend this book. This book had me in a constant state of fear and discomfort, I can't even begin to imagine living through the horrors that our MCs endured! Kaplan nailed the atmosphere with this one, so creepy and so good!!!!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2022
After a climate disaster has left the West Coast burning, Mads and Waynoka leave for the East Coast on motorcycles. They only make it to an abandoned mining town in Nevada.
Needing to escape the scorching sun, they seek shelter within an old silver mine. As they are looking for water deeper within the mine, an accident happens, leaving Mads severely injured and blocking off their only exit.
Searching for an alternative exit Waynoka discovers an old journal dated 1869. It tells the story of a woman named Lavinia who lived in the town with her husband and children. Strangely, Lavinia speaks of something bizarre and evil about the mine itself. Creatures or spirits come out at night; thus, the bells are placed over doors to warn people.
Whatever Lavinia wrote about all those years ago still haunts this mine, and now Mads and Waynoka are trapped deep inside with it!
This was a chilling read, but it had that Old West feel too. Lavinia’s journal is its own timeline, and you feel what life in an 1800s mining town might have been like. The suspense builds slowly, but I did not expect the creatures that came at the end. A perfect spooky book to end October with!
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @Camcat_books for a spot on tour and a gifted copy.
Needing to escape the scorching sun, they seek shelter within an old silver mine. As they are looking for water deeper within the mine, an accident happens, leaving Mads severely injured and blocking off their only exit.
Searching for an alternative exit Waynoka discovers an old journal dated 1869. It tells the story of a woman named Lavinia who lived in the town with her husband and children. Strangely, Lavinia speaks of something bizarre and evil about the mine itself. Creatures or spirits come out at night; thus, the bells are placed over doors to warn people.
Whatever Lavinia wrote about all those years ago still haunts this mine, and now Mads and Waynoka are trapped deep inside with it!
This was a chilling read, but it had that Old West feel too. Lavinia’s journal is its own timeline, and you feel what life in an 1800s mining town might have been like. The suspense builds slowly, but I did not expect the creatures that came at the end. A perfect spooky book to end October with!
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @Camcat_books for a spot on tour and a gifted copy.
October 4, 2022
I was a massive fan of Jo Kaplan’s 2020 debut, It Will Just Be Us, which features in my Horror DNA Top Ten Reads of the Year. It must have been very tempting for Jo to write another haunted house story (and I would have jumped at the chance of reading such a book), but instead she makes a subtle and thoughtful change of direction, abandoning the atmospheric spooky mansion in favour of a parched desert landscape and an abandoned silver mine.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
December 19, 2023
I loved WHEN THE NIGHT BELLS RING, Jo Kaplan's novel of about 300 pages published by CamCat Books in October of 2022. NIGHT BELLS was a fun and compelling read for a few reasons: One of the more impressive achievements of Kaplan's horror novel is the ambitious genre-smashing that it evinces. That is, Kaplan wrenches apart, disassembles, and sometimes even wholly obliterates the shopworn conventions of several traditional old genres -- among them, the post-apocalyptic journey-tale, the ghost-town tales of old Westerns, the classic vampire story, dystopian sci-fi tales, and even the buddy film/road trip adventure movie subgenre (think "Thelma and Louise," but impossibly more ghoulish) -- aspects of these genres are broken apart by Kaplan and are rigged back together into an unholy new and mutant, impressively hybridized whole.
In NIGHT BELLS we're invited into the harsh world of its two protagonists, Wanoka and Mads --both strong and resilient women, both well-written characters, and both survivors of a devastating climate Armageddon. They travel by motorcycle across the vacant spaces of what's left of America's Southwest. The two "dust devils," as they think of themselves, have acquired a hardwon resourcefulness while trying to stay alive in America's new hellscape--and this has both hardened them and allowed them to overcome the adversity of life after doomsday. And, yet -- even this might not be enough to prepare them for the shadowy menace that may (or may not) be crawling fast for them out in the waste. The pair happen upon a network of old mines, and as they search for precious water in the underground tunnels, they begin to fear what their flashlights might illuminate. Kaplan's writing elicits chills ably: "Waynoka saw a figure standing there, inching away from the glow, keeping to the darkness. Watching them."
Kaplan's characterization of her dual protagonists is great, and her descriptive details rivet the mind of the reader both into the blighted gloom of Wanoka and Mads' post-doomsday world (and mindset) and into the claustrophobic terrors of the spaces deep in Earth's bowels that the protagonists find themselves in. And it's down in there that they find an old diary, dated 1869, that provides the catalyst for the novel's true horror. The diary contains a disturbing story about the surrounding land and what happened to the settlers who once lived there. It's at this point that the paranoid atmosphere is laid on thick as the story switches between the current time of eco-catastrophe and, by way of Mads' reading of the old diary, the past of the late 1860s. "Animals called to the moon with voices that echoed over the desert," the journal from 1869 reads, written by someone named Lavinia, "and when I tried to close my eyes, I fancied a terrible face was looming out from the shadows, twisted and withered like a tanned hide, with ghastly thorns protruding in all directions--some curving up from the forehead in the manner of horns."
Are such nightmarish sights merely the delirious visions of exhausted settlers from long ago, or was a real presence haunting them? And was that menacing presence still around, waiting in the eerie old mineshafts for so many years, to prey on the two women now? "[T]he emptiness around us, in a land abandoned by God, promised such awful possibilities..." (A delicious shade in such passages as this of the type of nightmare-Biblical phrasing employed by Cormac McCarthy in Blood Meridian!) "My mind is either unraveling or opening like a flower."
But, alas, no more spoilers!
WHEN THE NIGHT BELLS RING is a wonderfully unique and inventive tale of horror. 5 out of 5.
In NIGHT BELLS we're invited into the harsh world of its two protagonists, Wanoka and Mads --both strong and resilient women, both well-written characters, and both survivors of a devastating climate Armageddon. They travel by motorcycle across the vacant spaces of what's left of America's Southwest. The two "dust devils," as they think of themselves, have acquired a hardwon resourcefulness while trying to stay alive in America's new hellscape--and this has both hardened them and allowed them to overcome the adversity of life after doomsday. And, yet -- even this might not be enough to prepare them for the shadowy menace that may (or may not) be crawling fast for them out in the waste. The pair happen upon a network of old mines, and as they search for precious water in the underground tunnels, they begin to fear what their flashlights might illuminate. Kaplan's writing elicits chills ably: "Waynoka saw a figure standing there, inching away from the glow, keeping to the darkness. Watching them."
Kaplan's characterization of her dual protagonists is great, and her descriptive details rivet the mind of the reader both into the blighted gloom of Wanoka and Mads' post-doomsday world (and mindset) and into the claustrophobic terrors of the spaces deep in Earth's bowels that the protagonists find themselves in. And it's down in there that they find an old diary, dated 1869, that provides the catalyst for the novel's true horror. The diary contains a disturbing story about the surrounding land and what happened to the settlers who once lived there. It's at this point that the paranoid atmosphere is laid on thick as the story switches between the current time of eco-catastrophe and, by way of Mads' reading of the old diary, the past of the late 1860s. "Animals called to the moon with voices that echoed over the desert," the journal from 1869 reads, written by someone named Lavinia, "and when I tried to close my eyes, I fancied a terrible face was looming out from the shadows, twisted and withered like a tanned hide, with ghastly thorns protruding in all directions--some curving up from the forehead in the manner of horns."
Are such nightmarish sights merely the delirious visions of exhausted settlers from long ago, or was a real presence haunting them? And was that menacing presence still around, waiting in the eerie old mineshafts for so many years, to prey on the two women now? "[T]he emptiness around us, in a land abandoned by God, promised such awful possibilities..." (A delicious shade in such passages as this of the type of nightmare-Biblical phrasing employed by Cormac McCarthy in Blood Meridian!) "My mind is either unraveling or opening like a flower."
But, alas, no more spoilers!
WHEN THE NIGHT BELLS RING is a wonderfully unique and inventive tale of horror. 5 out of 5.
November 26, 2023
Dystopian. Gothic. Creepy. This one was perfect for me. Years into a societal collapse due to climate change, two women Mads and Waynoka stop in a ghost town looking for water. Their search leads them to an old mine where they end up trapped. The room they find there has the diary of a woman from the 1860’s. She details her husband and brother in law’s search for silver in that very mine and the evil that was unleashed. Chapters flip back and forth between present day and the diary as each discovers more about what they’re really up against.
I loved this story. It reminded me of Lone Women meets The Book of the Unnamed Midwife. We get rational, strong, capable women in both timelines who slowly descend into paranoia and panic as their worlds change. I loved the mix of the horror of the real world, the ills of humanity and actual creepy supernatural creatures. The final reveal was perfect!
Read this one if you liked Mexican Gothic or Vampires of El Norte.
Thanks to CamCat Books for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.
I loved this story. It reminded me of Lone Women meets The Book of the Unnamed Midwife. We get rational, strong, capable women in both timelines who slowly descend into paranoia and panic as their worlds change. I loved the mix of the horror of the real world, the ills of humanity and actual creepy supernatural creatures. The final reveal was perfect!
Read this one if you liked Mexican Gothic or Vampires of El Norte.
Thanks to CamCat Books for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.
March 11, 2023
Have you ever read something that's full of both hope and despair at once? Because that's exactly what this book gave me.
How can a situation as bleak as an apocalyptic scenario remain as dark as it is and still not make me feel utterly crushed under its weight?
I, for one, prefer happy endings on horror stories, and I'd dare say I got what I wanted here. Sort of, at the very least.
It was also a terrible glimpse on what lack of consciousness over our environment might bring for the future too, so there's lots of horrors for you to pick on.
Great story, all in all.
How can a situation as bleak as an apocalyptic scenario remain as dark as it is and still not make me feel utterly crushed under its weight?
I, for one, prefer happy endings on horror stories, and I'd dare say I got what I wanted here. Sort of, at the very least.
It was also a terrible glimpse on what lack of consciousness over our environment might bring for the future too, so there's lots of horrors for you to pick on.
Great story, all in all.
March 24, 2023
The ending of this felt a little quick/abrupt, but wow I could not put this book down. Great blending of horror, western, and climate fiction.
September 27, 2022
When the Night Bells Ring by Jo Kaplan is a well-crafted, atmospheric thriller.
I mean OMG! This would be a great Halloween read, or any time read but the creepy spook factor is HIGH in this one, and I enjoyed EVERY minute of this rollercoaster ride.
I would say this is a Western Horror. Is that a genre? Who cares, this book will blow your mind!
The book takes place in the near future during a climate emergency (timely) and the entire west coast is literally on FIRE! Two main characters leave to go east to NYC where rumors are flying that things are better there.
They only make it to this small mining town in Nevada and come across a mine desperate for drinking water.
One of the characters gets hurt, but they are able to take shelter, while the other reads a diary from 1869.
This is a dual timeline book that alternates between the events in the mine and the time period in which the diary was written.
This book left me breathless with anticipation. The stories, the cursed mine, the diary entries.
The ending BLEW me away.
I cannot recommend this book enough!!!!
I mean OMG! This would be a great Halloween read, or any time read but the creepy spook factor is HIGH in this one, and I enjoyed EVERY minute of this rollercoaster ride.
I would say this is a Western Horror. Is that a genre? Who cares, this book will blow your mind!
The book takes place in the near future during a climate emergency (timely) and the entire west coast is literally on FIRE! Two main characters leave to go east to NYC where rumors are flying that things are better there.
They only make it to this small mining town in Nevada and come across a mine desperate for drinking water.
One of the characters gets hurt, but they are able to take shelter, while the other reads a diary from 1869.
This is a dual timeline book that alternates between the events in the mine and the time period in which the diary was written.
This book left me breathless with anticipation. The stories, the cursed mine, the diary entries.
The ending BLEW me away.
I cannot recommend this book enough!!!!
April 26, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this in advance!
3.5/5 stars.
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. Without giving away any spoilers, this story jumps back and forth between past and present and honestly, I feel like the story would have been better off if it was told all in the past; everything that happens in present time feels very… not irrelevant, but hardly anything happens until the very end and even then what happens didn’t really need to be told, it could have been wrapped up in the past. The sorta dystopian, post-climate catastrophe that ruins our normal way of life isn’t really brushed upon as much as I had thought it would be, it doesn’t really play into anything super important (well, I guess to get two of the main characters to where they end up), but it doesn’t really affect the main plot at all. I do like the horror-ish aspect to it, again without giving away spoilers, I very much like how all of that was handled and how it was written, everything was kept pretty imaginative and had you guessing what was going on until the end. Overall, an enjoyable read, but I was hoping for a bit more.
3.5/5 stars.
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. Without giving away any spoilers, this story jumps back and forth between past and present and honestly, I feel like the story would have been better off if it was told all in the past; everything that happens in present time feels very… not irrelevant, but hardly anything happens until the very end and even then what happens didn’t really need to be told, it could have been wrapped up in the past. The sorta dystopian, post-climate catastrophe that ruins our normal way of life isn’t really brushed upon as much as I had thought it would be, it doesn’t really play into anything super important (well, I guess to get two of the main characters to where they end up), but it doesn’t really affect the main plot at all. I do like the horror-ish aspect to it, again without giving away spoilers, I very much like how all of that was handled and how it was written, everything was kept pretty imaginative and had you guessing what was going on until the end. Overall, an enjoyable read, but I was hoping for a bit more.
September 8, 2023
EN: holy fuck.
holy fuck.
HOLY FUCK.
i feel like this book was written specifically for me. it reminds me of Shirley Jackson's work (like We Have Always Lived in the Castle and The Lottery) for its protagonists and the way it contrasts the "normalcy" of a village with the supposed madness of the narrator. i always love this kind of stories because they show how many people who are preoccupied with morals and tradition can do horrifying things in its name, or how they show their true colors under stress.
the book is divided in two timelines: two women are trying to survive in a near future affected by the consequences of climate change. they stumble upon a ghost village and they decide to explore the mines for water. they get trapped and it seems like they aren't alone. trying to find a way out, one of them sees a diary of a woman who lived there in 1869, so she begins to read it to see if there's anything useful said there. both stories are intertwined perfectly.
i wouldn't say this is a scary book per se, but i felt a great tension that it couldn't leave my body until i finished the it. i think this is because you get very attached to the characters, so seeing them go through the stuff they go through makes you worry about their safety (both physical and mental).
i don't want to talk much about it because of spoilers, but i appreciate the conversation this book has on greed, colonization and the way some abuse their power just because they can and it is convenient for the preservation of their status and wealth.
the audiobook was also quite nice. the voices helped to really feel the tension and the stakes of the situation. i don't know how to explain it, but the woman who does Lavinia's voice does really make it sound like she's from the 19th century.
i also loved the ending, it is quite self-indulgent. it's pretty cathartic, at least for me.
By the way, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
GAL: hostia puta.
hostia puta.
HOSTIA PUTA.
sinto que este libro foi escrito especificamente para min. lémbrame bastante ás obras de Shirley Jackson (como We Have Always Lived in the Castle e The Lottery) polas súas protagonistas e a forma na que contrasta a "normalidade" dunha aldea coa suposta tolemia da narradora. amo este tipo de historias porque amosan como moita da xente preocupada pola moral e as tradicións poden facer cousas horribles no seu nome ou como poden ensinar como son en realidade baixo estrés.
o libro está dividido en dúas liñas temporais: dúas mulleres tratan de sobreviviren nun futuro cercano afectado polas consecuencias do cambio climático. atopan unha cidade pantasma e deciden explorar as súas minas en busca de auga. quedan atrapadas e parece que non están soas. mentres buscan algunha forma de saír, unha delas atopa un diario dunha muller que viviu na aldea no 1869, así que empeza a lelo en busca de información valiosa. as dúas historias conéctanse perfectamente.
non diría que este libro dá medo, mais sentín unha gran tensión que non saíu do meu corpo ata que rematei a novela. isto é porque acabas colléndolle afecto aos personaxes, polo que velos pasar por todo o que sufren fai que te preocupe a súa seguridade (tanto física como mental).
non quero falar moito diso porque spoilers, mais aprecio a conversa que ten este libro sobre a codiza, o colonialismo e as formas nas que algúns abusan do seu poder só porque poden e para manter as súas estruturas de poder.
o audiolibro está moi ben. as voces axudan a sentir a tensión da situación das protagonistas. non sei como explicalo, pero a voz de Levinia realmente fai que pareza que é do século XIX.
tamén amei o final, é bastante autoindulxente. foi bastante catártico para min.
por certo, moitas grazas a NetGalley e á editora pola copia gratuíta deste audiolibro a cambio dunha reseña honesta.
holy fuck.
HOLY FUCK.
i feel like this book was written specifically for me. it reminds me of Shirley Jackson's work (like We Have Always Lived in the Castle and The Lottery) for its protagonists and the way it contrasts the "normalcy" of a village with the supposed madness of the narrator. i always love this kind of stories because they show how many people who are preoccupied with morals and tradition can do horrifying things in its name, or how they show their true colors under stress.
the book is divided in two timelines: two women are trying to survive in a near future affected by the consequences of climate change. they stumble upon a ghost village and they decide to explore the mines for water. they get trapped and it seems like they aren't alone. trying to find a way out, one of them sees a diary of a woman who lived there in 1869, so she begins to read it to see if there's anything useful said there. both stories are intertwined perfectly.
i wouldn't say this is a scary book per se, but i felt a great tension that it couldn't leave my body until i finished the it. i think this is because you get very attached to the characters, so seeing them go through the stuff they go through makes you worry about their safety (both physical and mental).
i don't want to talk much about it because of spoilers, but i appreciate the conversation this book has on greed, colonization and the way some abuse their power just because they can and it is convenient for the preservation of their status and wealth.
the audiobook was also quite nice. the voices helped to really feel the tension and the stakes of the situation. i don't know how to explain it, but the woman who does Lavinia's voice does really make it sound like she's from the 19th century.
i also loved the ending, it is quite self-indulgent. it's pretty cathartic, at least for me.
By the way, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
GAL: hostia puta.
hostia puta.
HOSTIA PUTA.
sinto que este libro foi escrito especificamente para min. lémbrame bastante ás obras de Shirley Jackson (como We Have Always Lived in the Castle e The Lottery) polas súas protagonistas e a forma na que contrasta a "normalidade" dunha aldea coa suposta tolemia da narradora. amo este tipo de historias porque amosan como moita da xente preocupada pola moral e as tradicións poden facer cousas horribles no seu nome ou como poden ensinar como son en realidade baixo estrés.
o libro está dividido en dúas liñas temporais: dúas mulleres tratan de sobreviviren nun futuro cercano afectado polas consecuencias do cambio climático. atopan unha cidade pantasma e deciden explorar as súas minas en busca de auga. quedan atrapadas e parece que non están soas. mentres buscan algunha forma de saír, unha delas atopa un diario dunha muller que viviu na aldea no 1869, así que empeza a lelo en busca de información valiosa. as dúas historias conéctanse perfectamente.
non diría que este libro dá medo, mais sentín unha gran tensión que non saíu do meu corpo ata que rematei a novela. isto é porque acabas colléndolle afecto aos personaxes, polo que velos pasar por todo o que sufren fai que te preocupe a súa seguridade (tanto física como mental).
non quero falar moito diso porque spoilers, mais aprecio a conversa que ten este libro sobre a codiza, o colonialismo e as formas nas que algúns abusan do seu poder só porque poden e para manter as súas estruturas de poder.
o audiolibro está moi ben. as voces axudan a sentir a tensión da situación das protagonistas. non sei como explicalo, pero a voz de Levinia realmente fai que pareza que é do século XIX.
tamén amei o final, é bastante autoindulxente. foi bastante catártico para min.
por certo, moitas grazas a NetGalley e á editora pola copia gratuíta deste audiolibro a cambio dunha reseña honesta.
January 15, 2024
You ever read something where you just kind of know the author has only ever lived in major metropolitan areas, especially when it comes to the west coast? This is one of those things. I was completely unsurprised to find out the author’s from LA, because the idea of the rural west being abandoned for the cities, even as west coast cities are themselves abandoned in the event of apocalypse is just… fucking laughable. You cannot tell me the ghost town at the heart of this story, having potable-ish water and an isolated location, would not attract some kind of weird prepper cult with far too much weaponry and far too many bizarre interpretations of the Bible. Which honestly might be more dangerous than the vampires.
On an artistic level, god this book let me down. The stakes in the present day story felt weirdly nonexistent, even though, you know, someone broke her leg horribly and they’re trying to escape a haunted mine as they flee the apocalyptic destruction of LA. (Also they’re drinking mine runoff. How are the characters this dumb). The past story starts off great (the grave counting in the diary and the plain, no-nonsense prose, before it turns into hokey pseudo-antiquated nonsense, is excellent and really does feel like reading nineteenth century text), but it just gets more and more ridiculous and un-atmospheric. Both storylines poke at some interesting ideas but never delve into them in any real depth, particularly those involving Mexican syncretic spirituality, or anything involving religion at all (okay, look, I’m a slut for syncretic Catholicism, I admit it). And Lavinia’s coming from post-Civil War Boston! That is an incredibly spiritually fertile milieu! She’s struggling with a whole lot of supernaturally charged questions and personal tragedy! She’s a 19th century woman! She’s coming in contact with Claudia’s unfamiliar spiritual practice! Why aren’t we getting more of her own religious thoughts and perspectives (I am also a slut for 19th century Weird Protestantism). And then there are the “demons”, who are mostly just not particularly interesting vampires. I kinda wish there’d been more played up with the cactus connection— are the cactuses poisonous segues nicely into “are the ‘demons’ evil or are they just another kind of organism doing their own thing, that humans don’t truly understand?” But it’s just sort of poked and not fully explored.
In the end, I have only one suggestion: just listen to the Handsome Family’s Singing Bones. All the vibes and murdercacti, none of the bad artistry or boring storytelling. Plus that album’s like entirely solid bangers.
On an artistic level, god this book let me down. The stakes in the present day story felt weirdly nonexistent, even though, you know, someone broke her leg horribly and they’re trying to escape a haunted mine as they flee the apocalyptic destruction of LA. (Also they’re drinking mine runoff. How are the characters this dumb). The past story starts off great (the grave counting in the diary and the plain, no-nonsense prose, before it turns into hokey pseudo-antiquated nonsense, is excellent and really does feel like reading nineteenth century text), but it just gets more and more ridiculous and un-atmospheric. Both storylines poke at some interesting ideas but never delve into them in any real depth, particularly those involving Mexican syncretic spirituality, or anything involving religion at all (okay, look, I’m a slut for syncretic Catholicism, I admit it). And Lavinia’s coming from post-Civil War Boston! That is an incredibly spiritually fertile milieu! She’s struggling with a whole lot of supernaturally charged questions and personal tragedy! She’s a 19th century woman! She’s coming in contact with Claudia’s unfamiliar spiritual practice! Why aren’t we getting more of her own religious thoughts and perspectives (I am also a slut for 19th century Weird Protestantism). And then there are the “demons”, who are mostly just not particularly interesting vampires. I kinda wish there’d been more played up with the cactus connection— are the cactuses poisonous segues nicely into “are the ‘demons’ evil or are they just another kind of organism doing their own thing, that humans don’t truly understand?” But it’s just sort of poked and not fully explored.
In the end, I have only one suggestion: just listen to the Handsome Family’s Singing Bones. All the vibes and murdercacti, none of the bad artistry or boring storytelling. Plus that album’s like entirely solid bangers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2023
I am in shock because this book represents exactly what I have been thinking recently: That we all understand life as we experience it, and refuse what we do not understand. Yet there is possibility for more, as different cultures interpret life in different ways. This book was one of two that actually kind of scared me in this Paranormal, spiritual genre. It encapsulates the fears of a mother in a time where survival is hard, condemning the doings of humans through the world of god.
It was very interesting to witness how priorities shifted in the narrative and people the characters professed their love for had to be left behind in the fight for survival. The will to survive is at the core of the plot and so powerful I found myself siding with each character despite the horrors depicted. I liked the two timeliness and the way they connect to one another, considering the diary form the best one to depict the feelings of the character. The read also once again reflects the trouble with religion and faith I am personally going through at the moment, once again leaning towards it and interpreting knowledge under a different lense. If you are looking for a spooky read, pick this one up ASAP, it won't disappoint.
It was very interesting to witness how priorities shifted in the narrative and people the characters professed their love for had to be left behind in the fight for survival. The will to survive is at the core of the plot and so powerful I found myself siding with each character despite the horrors depicted. I liked the two timeliness and the way they connect to one another, considering the diary form the best one to depict the feelings of the character. The read also once again reflects the trouble with religion and faith I am personally going through at the moment, once again leaning towards it and interpreting knowledge under a different lense. If you are looking for a spooky read, pick this one up ASAP, it won't disappoint.
August 22, 2023
In the future were drought and fire have consumed the earth two women on motorcycles try to find shelter and water. This leads them to a cave in an old silver mining town in Nevada. Once in the mine Mads gets hurt and her companion Waynoka must find a way out to go get help. They stumble upon a room with a diary of Lavinia, a prospectors wife from 1860's. The more Waynoka reads the more scared she becomes of their surroundings they cannot escape.
I loved the duel time lines. All three ladies are survivors. This book was creepy and I loved it. It is exactly what I want in a horror book. Confined to a space that is gloomy and dark Waynoka believes Lavinia's diary might help them escape this hopeless situation. Something lurks in the caves . The more Waynoka reads the more frightened she becomes.
This was a very compelling story and I loved every minute of it. I could not put it down. My kind of horror book. I am glad I discovered it. I also want to mentioned I listened to this book on audio and I enjoyed the two different voices for Lavinia and Waynoka.
Thank you NETGalley for the ARC audio book and thanks to CamCat book in exchange for an honest review
I loved the duel time lines. All three ladies are survivors. This book was creepy and I loved it. It is exactly what I want in a horror book. Confined to a space that is gloomy and dark Waynoka believes Lavinia's diary might help them escape this hopeless situation. Something lurks in the caves . The more Waynoka reads the more frightened she becomes.
This was a very compelling story and I loved every minute of it. I could not put it down. My kind of horror book. I am glad I discovered it. I also want to mentioned I listened to this book on audio and I enjoyed the two different voices for Lavinia and Waynoka.
Thank you NETGalley for the ARC audio book and thanks to CamCat book in exchange for an honest review
October 8, 2023
3 ⭐️
When I first got this book, I was so excited. The premise sounded incredible but I think it fell a little flat for me. I received the audiobook version of “When the night bells ring” via NetGalley on exchange for my honest feedback.
The audiobook of this was great. The narrators were really awesome to listen to and I loved the fact that I coukd listen on 2.5x the speed and it felt like they were just having a conversation. This story is told in dual POV. A past and present storyline. Overall the narration was really great and I think if you’re going to read this one, the audiobook version is the way to go!
With all that aside, this story ended up being a bit different than I was anticipating. It looked and sounded spooky but it really wasn’t, I thought I was going to be shaking in my boots by the end of this novel but I felt like I sat around waiting for the horror side of things and it just wasn’t there for me, it is in no way a bad story. It was entertaining to listen to and kept my attention for the most part,
While it may have fell flat for me, I can certainly see why others may love this.
When I first got this book, I was so excited. The premise sounded incredible but I think it fell a little flat for me. I received the audiobook version of “When the night bells ring” via NetGalley on exchange for my honest feedback.
The audiobook of this was great. The narrators were really awesome to listen to and I loved the fact that I coukd listen on 2.5x the speed and it felt like they were just having a conversation. This story is told in dual POV. A past and present storyline. Overall the narration was really great and I think if you’re going to read this one, the audiobook version is the way to go!
With all that aside, this story ended up being a bit different than I was anticipating. It looked and sounded spooky but it really wasn’t, I thought I was going to be shaking in my boots by the end of this novel but I felt like I sat around waiting for the horror side of things and it just wasn’t there for me, it is in no way a bad story. It was entertaining to listen to and kept my attention for the most part,
While it may have fell flat for me, I can certainly see why others may love this.
October 30, 2025
I really enjoyed When The Night Bells Ring by Jo Kaplan. Perfect spooky season historical horror. I physically read the Twisted Retreat's edition, which is stunning btw. I also appreciate their sewn binding. They are a horror subscription box. Look them up if interested. I hate I waited this long to pluck it from my tbr pile. Great book that hardly gets mentioned. If you liked The Buffalo Hunter Hunter check this out.
Vampires and an old west survival diary where timelines coverge? Yes please. Ominous, atmospheric, savage and claustrophobic at times, the writing was suspenseful and the storyline well crafted. I love stories like this, where there is a mysterious type of presence. Loved the characters and the ending. I just loved the whole book. I'll definitely read this author again. Buy-worthy!
Vampires and an old west survival diary where timelines coverge? Yes please. Ominous, atmospheric, savage and claustrophobic at times, the writing was suspenseful and the storyline well crafted. I love stories like this, where there is a mysterious type of presence. Loved the characters and the ending. I just loved the whole book. I'll definitely read this author again. Buy-worthy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2023
This is the first book from the author I have listened to and boy was I pleasantly surprised.
I found myself not wanting to turn it off (audiobook), and when I had to, I was eager to dive back in.
I found that this book is more a dystopian thriller than a horror.
The world building in both timelines was really great, and I was able to picture both so clearly. The story was easy to follow and not all over the place, which. I sometimes find with dual timelines. I wasn’t so emotionally invested in Mads and Waynoka’s story, but I was drawn to Lavinia’s diary entries and what happened next.
The ending is something that was probably a bit too easy to predict, but none the less wrapped the story up well.
I found myself not wanting to turn it off (audiobook), and when I had to, I was eager to dive back in.
I found that this book is more a dystopian thriller than a horror.
The world building in both timelines was really great, and I was able to picture both so clearly. The story was easy to follow and not all over the place, which. I sometimes find with dual timelines. I wasn’t so emotionally invested in Mads and Waynoka’s story, but I was drawn to Lavinia’s diary entries and what happened next.
The ending is something that was probably a bit too easy to predict, but none the less wrapped the story up well.
September 7, 2023
I received the audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Because I really enjoyed this author's previous haunted house story, I was so excited to get this book! However, I had to DNF at 27% because as much as I tried to get into the story, it just couldn't hold my interest. There wasn't anything remotely scary up until that point, and it was more of a historical fiction timeline mixed with a modern dystopian story (with 2 povs switching).
I am genuinely thankful to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen to this audiobook. I will definitely check out more of this author's work in the future, but this one just wasn't for me.
I must add that the narrators did a good job, but the storyline couldn't keep my interest.
2⭐️
I am genuinely thankful to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen to this audiobook. I will definitely check out more of this author's work in the future, but this one just wasn't for me.
I must add that the narrators did a good job, but the storyline couldn't keep my interest.
2⭐️
October 14, 2022
3.5 stars
I love stories that are set in or around mines so this immediately piqued my interest. This book consists of essentially two stories; one set in the past and one set in an apocalyptic future. I found the past timeline to be the more interesting and developed story over the future timeline. The momentum stalled a bit with the future timeline and the past timeline is what provided most of the action and answers.
The horror element is unique and worked well with the barren desert landscape. I could vividly picture how hard life was back in the 1800s, living in this harsh environment and working a very difficult job mining for silver. The townspeople were extremely judgmental and I wished for nothing but bad things to happen to them. At times the story could be slow but overall, When the Night Bells Ring is an entertaining horror story set in a unique environment.
I love stories that are set in or around mines so this immediately piqued my interest. This book consists of essentially two stories; one set in the past and one set in an apocalyptic future. I found the past timeline to be the more interesting and developed story over the future timeline. The momentum stalled a bit with the future timeline and the past timeline is what provided most of the action and answers.
The horror element is unique and worked well with the barren desert landscape. I could vividly picture how hard life was back in the 1800s, living in this harsh environment and working a very difficult job mining for silver. The townspeople were extremely judgmental and I wished for nothing but bad things to happen to them. At times the story could be slow but overall, When the Night Bells Ring is an entertaining horror story set in a unique environment.
did-not-finish
August 20, 2023In good horror novels, I feel like the characters try to make good choices based on their situations, and then awful stuff happens.
This wasn't that book.
There was one intelligent decision followed by a bunch of nonsense, which culminated in me literally pulling into a parking lot (I was listening to the audiobook while driving) and turning off the app while telling the main characters they were too stupid to live.
I don't know what happened to them. I don't know what was up with the fucking bell. I just hope they died horribly in the dark.
The end.
DNFed at 14%
This wasn't that book.
There was one intelligent decision followed by a bunch of nonsense, which culminated in me literally pulling into a parking lot (I was listening to the audiobook while driving) and turning off the app while telling the main characters they were too stupid to live.
I don't know what happened to them. I don't know what was up with the fucking bell. I just hope they died horribly in the dark.
The end.
DNFed at 14%
August 24, 2023
2.5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the audio review copy of this book!
I thought this was fine. It was intriguing and had an interesting plot. But I felt kind of anti-climatic. It was more unsettling than scary.
I really did want to know what was going on and what happened in the town and the mine. But when the big reveal happened it kind of just felt meh.
I did like the characters in the more modern-day time, but felt their part could have been stronger than it was. It also felt like there wasn't really anything at stake.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the audio review copy of this book!
I thought this was fine. It was intriguing and had an interesting plot. But I felt kind of anti-climatic. It was more unsettling than scary.
I really did want to know what was going on and what happened in the town and the mine. But when the big reveal happened it kind of just felt meh.
I did like the characters in the more modern-day time, but felt their part could have been stronger than it was. It also felt like there wasn't really anything at stake.
September 8, 2023
Wow!
This is precisely the type of horror that I like to read! A well thought out story, and from the beginning you have that creeping sense that something is wrong.
I love that a great deal of the book is the diary, and that it’s incorporated in such a good way. And the way the two timelines interact with each other is phenomenal.
I really didn’t think I would root this much for all the characters, but here I am!
Sometimes it gets a little too long winded, but that is really a minor issue on my part, and my personal preference.
This is precisely the type of horror that I like to read! A well thought out story, and from the beginning you have that creeping sense that something is wrong.
I love that a great deal of the book is the diary, and that it’s incorporated in such a good way. And the way the two timelines interact with each other is phenomenal.
I really didn’t think I would root this much for all the characters, but here I am!
Sometimes it gets a little too long winded, but that is really a minor issue on my part, and my personal preference.
October 4, 2023
I always love an audiobook with multiple narrators and I also appreciated the narrators didn't sound similar so I never felt lost. This book was a slow burn and in my opinion, a little too slow. I loved the cave and atmosphere, it had all the spooky settings. I wish more was revealed a little sooner as I felt like everything was left to the final 10% of the book. I think if the reveals happened a bit sooner, it wouldn't have felt so long.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book!
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