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Holy Ghost Road
Some roads are haunted by the past. Some by ghosts. Some are even haunted by demons. The one Forest must travel is haunted by all three.
When she discovers Pastor Nesmith praying to a demonic entity in her family’s barn, Forest knows she must run. Enraged at the possibility of having his true allegiance exposed, Nesmith pursues Forest as she flees on foot, hoping to reach the one person who will believe her—her grandmother. Unfortunately, Granny is forty miles away, and Forest has no car, no phone, and no friends. To reach her, Forest will have to learn to see the world true, even as the demonic and the sacred wage war for her soul.
When she discovers Pastor Nesmith praying to a demonic entity in her family’s barn, Forest knows she must run. Enraged at the possibility of having his true allegiance exposed, Nesmith pursues Forest as she flees on foot, hoping to reach the one person who will believe her—her grandmother. Unfortunately, Granny is forty miles away, and Forest has no car, no phone, and no friends. To reach her, Forest will have to learn to see the world true, even as the demonic and the sacred wage war for her soul.
352 pages, Paperback
Published December 6, 2022
About the author
John Mantooth
37 books105 followersJOHN MANTOOTH is the award winning author of two novels and a short story collection. His first novel, The Year of the Storm, was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award. He has also published three crime novels under the pseudonym Hank Early. Heaven’s Crooked Finger (written as Hank Early) was a Next Generation Indie Book award winner and 2017 Foreword Indies Award Finalist. He lives in Alabama with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
March 19, 2023
A thoroughly enjoyable tale of magic, fantasy and the coming of age of a young Southern girl.
The book as a whole was well written and quite nicely paced. Reading this felt like a breath of fresh air, the relationship between the main two characters was quite endearing as were some of the scenes set by the writer, I could imagine exactly what the scene would look, smell and feel like. The book felt like a cross between a horror and a fantasy novel.
Well worth checking out!
This Arc copy was provided by the publisher via netgalley in return for an honest review.
The book as a whole was well written and quite nicely paced. Reading this felt like a breath of fresh air, the relationship between the main two characters was quite endearing as were some of the scenes set by the writer, I could imagine exactly what the scene would look, smell and feel like. The book felt like a cross between a horror and a fantasy novel.
Well worth checking out!
This Arc copy was provided by the publisher via netgalley in return for an honest review.
April 1, 2026
Some roads are haunted by the past. Some by ghosts. Some are even haunted by demons. The one Forest must travel is haunted by all three.
Readers should be aware that while religion plays a significant part in the story it isn't about any particular religion. Also, the supernatural aspect is significantly more pronounced than the religious aspect. The term ‘Holy Ghost’ will never let the reader be truly sure whether it is referring to the Christian God or a dark "something else".
This is an intense book... and although the action takes place over a mere week, it will seem like a much shorter period. We will be visiting the rural Alabama landscapes; lined with trailer parks and backwater bars that are skillfully brought to life. The story opens with fifteen-year-old, Forest, on the run from Pastor Nesmith and his buddies, with the chase never letting up for the 350 pages of the book. As Forest ducks and dives ...quite literally...from her enemies, the threat is never very far away.
Forest is only traveling forty miles to her grandmother, but this distance is made to feel like an eternity in the hostile Winston County where the pastor has eyes everywhere. The chase, only in the vaguest of terms, reminded me of the movie Race with the Devil, where four tourists found themselves on the wrong side of local Satanists.
The story is written in the first person, and Forest is undoubtedly the leading lady...the star of the story. Although she tells us she is 15-years old, her voice is significantly more mature, most likely a result of her more than challenging upbringing. The supernatural is introduced initially when Forest witnesses Pastor Nesmith involved in what looks like some kind of Satanic ritual in the family barn. Things are more complex though, as Forest’s mother is dating the "good" pastor and whenever there is conflict, Mom sides with him over her daughter. Forest knows her only ally is her grandmother, but the problem is getting across the county to grandma's farm. The story provides the reader with a good idea of distance and perspective. In the physical sense, grandma is rarely in the novel, but her "presence" still dominates what proceeds...she's another of this author's excellent creation. Highway 278 is mentioned several times, grounding both the action and Forest’s personal odyssey, and it is easy to step into her shoes as she fights to reach her grandma in Cullman County.
Why would an old woman be able to protect a teenager from a guy with supernatural abilities, you might ask. That's a good question...and one that I asked myself often. Now we come to the second thread of the main story. Forest has a strong psychic connection to her grandmother through her dreams. Seems that they can both "dream walk". This is much too complex to explain how this "gift" works, but our Pastor Nesmith is very aware of it and of the power it brings, and also how it can be harnessed or even stolen. Forrest seems to be unaware that she is at the center of everything and soon the battle to recover the "dream-stone", which increases the power, begins.
The book is a thrilling and dangerous journey which is filled to overflowing by ghosts, traps, demons and monsters. The monsters are mostly of the "human variety". Forest to start with may not have your sympathy, but she will certainly earn it as she is stalked, battered, and bruised on her journey of self-discovery, a journey that not even her own family can be trusted. It's a book that can teach us a lot about the world in which we live and those that populate it.
Readers should be aware that while religion plays a significant part in the story it isn't about any particular religion. Also, the supernatural aspect is significantly more pronounced than the religious aspect. The term ‘Holy Ghost’ will never let the reader be truly sure whether it is referring to the Christian God or a dark "something else".
This is an intense book... and although the action takes place over a mere week, it will seem like a much shorter period. We will be visiting the rural Alabama landscapes; lined with trailer parks and backwater bars that are skillfully brought to life. The story opens with fifteen-year-old, Forest, on the run from Pastor Nesmith and his buddies, with the chase never letting up for the 350 pages of the book. As Forest ducks and dives ...quite literally...from her enemies, the threat is never very far away.
Forest is only traveling forty miles to her grandmother, but this distance is made to feel like an eternity in the hostile Winston County where the pastor has eyes everywhere. The chase, only in the vaguest of terms, reminded me of the movie Race with the Devil, where four tourists found themselves on the wrong side of local Satanists.
The story is written in the first person, and Forest is undoubtedly the leading lady...the star of the story. Although she tells us she is 15-years old, her voice is significantly more mature, most likely a result of her more than challenging upbringing. The supernatural is introduced initially when Forest witnesses Pastor Nesmith involved in what looks like some kind of Satanic ritual in the family barn. Things are more complex though, as Forest’s mother is dating the "good" pastor and whenever there is conflict, Mom sides with him over her daughter. Forest knows her only ally is her grandmother, but the problem is getting across the county to grandma's farm. The story provides the reader with a good idea of distance and perspective. In the physical sense, grandma is rarely in the novel, but her "presence" still dominates what proceeds...she's another of this author's excellent creation. Highway 278 is mentioned several times, grounding both the action and Forest’s personal odyssey, and it is easy to step into her shoes as she fights to reach her grandma in Cullman County.
Why would an old woman be able to protect a teenager from a guy with supernatural abilities, you might ask. That's a good question...and one that I asked myself often. Now we come to the second thread of the main story. Forest has a strong psychic connection to her grandmother through her dreams. Seems that they can both "dream walk". This is much too complex to explain how this "gift" works, but our Pastor Nesmith is very aware of it and of the power it brings, and also how it can be harnessed or even stolen. Forrest seems to be unaware that she is at the center of everything and soon the battle to recover the "dream-stone", which increases the power, begins.
The book is a thrilling and dangerous journey which is filled to overflowing by ghosts, traps, demons and monsters. The monsters are mostly of the "human variety". Forest to start with may not have your sympathy, but she will certainly earn it as she is stalked, battered, and bruised on her journey of self-discovery, a journey that not even her own family can be trusted. It's a book that can teach us a lot about the world in which we live and those that populate it.
June 20, 2023
I finished reading this a week or so ago. It's stayed with me.
This has a wonderfully Southern Gothic feel to it. The author definitely placed me very firmly in his world and, dark and eerie as it was, I didn't want to leave.
I loved Forest and was so worried for her on her journey!
An excellent read that simply didn't let me come up for air
This has a wonderfully Southern Gothic feel to it. The author definitely placed me very firmly in his world and, dark and eerie as it was, I didn't want to leave.
I loved Forest and was so worried for her on her journey!
An excellent read that simply didn't let me come up for air
December 7, 2022
This Cemetery Dance e-ARC about good and evil, lies and truth, granny magic, and a goat demon is written in the first person as a 15 year old girl living in Alabama. I grew up in West Virginia and spent many Sundays with a holy rolling-testifying-speaking in tongues Southern Baptist preacher. The protagonist, setting, and story evoked emotions, nostalgia, and homesickness (all in a good way.) I could feel the chiggers' itch, taste the fried bologna, hear the cicadas, and smell the (Guyandotte, in my case) river. It is not a fast-paced story, but I like this Author's writing style and vernacular well enough that I will read more from him.
January 11, 2023
Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go... in a desperate attempt to escape the clutches of Pastor Nesmith and a fate worse than death.
15 year old Forest is wise beyond her years. She sees things that others can't. She has a special power and that is why Pastor Nesmith has his sights on her. Most of the town is under his spell, including Forest's mom who doesn't realize he only pretends to care about her to get closer to her daughter.
For the majority of the book, we are on the run with Forest, hiding, or escaping the clutches of the pastor's creepy blind sister who moves as if she can see. There is a lot of suspense at first, but it becomes repetitive after a while with so many close calls and near misses. The pace is a little slow for my taste. I really wanted to love this book but it was just an ok read for me. It was just too much of the same thing over and over. Run, hide, search for food, get caught, escape, run hide, rinse repeat. You may enjoy it more than I did.
My thanks to Cemetery Dance for the review copy,
15 year old Forest is wise beyond her years. She sees things that others can't. She has a special power and that is why Pastor Nesmith has his sights on her. Most of the town is under his spell, including Forest's mom who doesn't realize he only pretends to care about her to get closer to her daughter.
For the majority of the book, we are on the run with Forest, hiding, or escaping the clutches of the pastor's creepy blind sister who moves as if she can see. There is a lot of suspense at first, but it becomes repetitive after a while with so many close calls and near misses. The pace is a little slow for my taste. I really wanted to love this book but it was just an ok read for me. It was just too much of the same thing over and over. Run, hide, search for food, get caught, escape, run hide, rinse repeat. You may enjoy it more than I did.
My thanks to Cemetery Dance for the review copy,
September 24, 2022
Loved it - not to be missed
December 27, 2022
DNF 33%
I Struggled with this one as it just felt like running on the spot.
I Struggled with this one as it just felt like running on the spot.
October 8, 2022
I found this story to be dark and engrossing. I loved every moment I spent in this story. The writing flowed smoothly and kept me immersed in the magic.
Fifteen year old Forest is on the run from her soon-to-be stepfather, Nesmith, when she finds him doing something he should not be doing. Forest has a plan to make it to her grandmother's house miles away. While eluding Nesmith and his sister, she finds a gentleman wandering the forest lost and confused. Elijah becomes a close friend and someone she can rely on to help her make it to her grandmother's house. When she finally makes it to her grandmother’s home, Nesmith arrives and the final battle begins.
So much happens in this simple story. It is written in such a bleak and dark way, but it pulls you in to teach you how a young girl can delve deep into her heart and mind and find a strength she never knew she had.
I would consider this to be a very mild horror story. I think it falls under psychological haunting. I don’t mean haunting as in ghosts necessarily. I mean it cuts deep inside your soul and grips your heart. For a deep and dark story, I recommend reading this one.
Thank you #NetGalley and Cemetery Dance Publications for sending me this ebook for an honest review.
#HolyGhostRoad
Fifteen year old Forest is on the run from her soon-to-be stepfather, Nesmith, when she finds him doing something he should not be doing. Forest has a plan to make it to her grandmother's house miles away. While eluding Nesmith and his sister, she finds a gentleman wandering the forest lost and confused. Elijah becomes a close friend and someone she can rely on to help her make it to her grandmother's house. When she finally makes it to her grandmother’s home, Nesmith arrives and the final battle begins.
So much happens in this simple story. It is written in such a bleak and dark way, but it pulls you in to teach you how a young girl can delve deep into her heart and mind and find a strength she never knew she had.
I would consider this to be a very mild horror story. I think it falls under psychological haunting. I don’t mean haunting as in ghosts necessarily. I mean it cuts deep inside your soul and grips your heart. For a deep and dark story, I recommend reading this one.
Thank you #NetGalley and Cemetery Dance Publications for sending me this ebook for an honest review.
#HolyGhostRoad
December 23, 2022
“I’m only fifteen, but I’m pretty confident there ain’t nothing easy about this world.”-Forest
HOLY GHOST ROAD by John Mantooth
When Forest sees something that she shouldn’t, she runs away heading to her Granny’s house across the county. On the run from Nesmith the minister of his church, the First Assembly of the Lord’s Ordained Prophet, Forest finds lots of trouble as well as herself along the way.
Strong Southern gothic feel, religious cult, supernatural demon ghost, psychological head games, and natural magic all combine to make this a tense, cinematic, on-the-run thriller. There is so much packed into this book but what really comes out is the heart (sometimes literally), but really, there were so many times that I had to pause and just appreciate the sentiment of the lines. I wanted to fill this review with all the thought provoking quotes from this book but I didn’t want to give everything away.
I have seen several comparisons to Robert McCammon and I completely agree.
“the most sacred magic there is in the world, the magic of empathy, even for those people who you understand the least.”
HOLY GHOST ROAD by John Mantooth
When Forest sees something that she shouldn’t, she runs away heading to her Granny’s house across the county. On the run from Nesmith the minister of his church, the First Assembly of the Lord’s Ordained Prophet, Forest finds lots of trouble as well as herself along the way.
Strong Southern gothic feel, religious cult, supernatural demon ghost, psychological head games, and natural magic all combine to make this a tense, cinematic, on-the-run thriller. There is so much packed into this book but what really comes out is the heart (sometimes literally), but really, there were so many times that I had to pause and just appreciate the sentiment of the lines. I wanted to fill this review with all the thought provoking quotes from this book but I didn’t want to give everything away.
I have seen several comparisons to Robert McCammon and I completely agree.
“the most sacred magic there is in the world, the magic of empathy, even for those people who you understand the least.”
February 21, 2023
I was not the best audience for this one. I found it more repetitive, and "unclear" all the way through.
December 17, 2022
Holy Ghost Road ~ John Mantooth
Net Galley arc
Cemetery Dance Publications
Release date: 20th Dec 2022
4⭐️
“When she discovers Pastor Nesmith praying to a demonic entity in her family’s barn, Forest knows she must run. Enraged at the possibility of having his true allegiance exposed, Nesmith pursues Forest as she flees on foot, hoping to reach the one person who will believe her—her grandmother. Unfortunately, Granny is forty miles away, and Forest has no car, no phone, and no friends. To reach her, Forest will have to learn to see the world true, even as the demonic and the sacred wage war for her soul.”
I struggled with this book for the first 20%. I felt like I was thrown in at the deep end and desperate for something to cling to in the story to help me gain a sense of place and purpose. I really had to force myself to keep going.
However this soon changed! Forest’s journey takes places on so many levels, the physical, mental and spiritual. Every single one is nurtured throughout and the “down-time” in the book is absolutely essential to this. I loved the development of her relationship with Elijah - and the example of a love and bond between a teenage girl and a man that is pure and platonic.
This book is definitely more thriller than chiller - and this is 100% down to the bravery shown by our main character Forest.
I highly recommend this book.
Net Galley arc
Cemetery Dance Publications
Release date: 20th Dec 2022
4⭐️
“When she discovers Pastor Nesmith praying to a demonic entity in her family’s barn, Forest knows she must run. Enraged at the possibility of having his true allegiance exposed, Nesmith pursues Forest as she flees on foot, hoping to reach the one person who will believe her—her grandmother. Unfortunately, Granny is forty miles away, and Forest has no car, no phone, and no friends. To reach her, Forest will have to learn to see the world true, even as the demonic and the sacred wage war for her soul.”
I struggled with this book for the first 20%. I felt like I was thrown in at the deep end and desperate for something to cling to in the story to help me gain a sense of place and purpose. I really had to force myself to keep going.
However this soon changed! Forest’s journey takes places on so many levels, the physical, mental and spiritual. Every single one is nurtured throughout and the “down-time” in the book is absolutely essential to this. I loved the development of her relationship with Elijah - and the example of a love and bond between a teenage girl and a man that is pure and platonic.
This book is definitely more thriller than chiller - and this is 100% down to the bravery shown by our main character Forest.
I highly recommend this book.
quit-dnf
November 24, 2022DNF at 53%. Holy Ghost Road is styled like a chase thriller, but feels a lot like just running in place. The characters don’t really go anywhere and they do a lot of it, getting nowhere fast. They run, they rest, they get chased again, they run some more. They run across land, down the road, through the woods, swim across a lake to an island, then leave by boat to get back to land, to flee through the woods again, to get to the road, to escape again, to be chased again, and on and on and on. The plot moves with the ease of convenience heaped upon convenience, and the whole damn thing is just tiring as all get out. I’m not feeling this one at all…
August 13, 2024
Pretty solid book. It makes you think about life and what life truly means. Also it's scary and gives cult vibes.
December 11, 2022
Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of Holy Ghost Road. This is a wild ride of a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This book combines horror and fantasy along with survival, a little bit of everything for the horror lover, but done in a way that it all melts together perfectly.
Forest discovers her pastor praying to a demon in her barn. She knows she is in danger and has to get to her granny's house 40 miles away on foot. She is being chased by her pastor and his crew and must get to her destination to save herself.
Forest discovers her pastor praying to a demon in her barn. She knows she is in danger and has to get to her granny's house 40 miles away on foot. She is being chased by her pastor and his crew and must get to her destination to save herself.
December 8, 2022
This book has so many messages. Some are about fighting demons, real or imagined. Another is about believing in oneself. Yet another is knowing that if you trust the process, all will work out. The journey Forest takes (love her name) is one I am sure every reader has faced in some way or another. I know I have. When I realized my demon had no power over me anymore (my mother, after years of emotional and physical abuse) then I was able to move on and feel better about who I am now. This author provokes so many feelings. I can even see this in how the world is going right now. Read this book…it will have you thinking for days, I promise.
November 30, 2022
From the start this book had me hooked. Such a brilliant way to start it off had me nervous and wondering what could be in store for the rest. And it absolutely did not disappoint! I loved that the book was mostly about her escape and her running from them in the woods! The only thing I wasn’t a huge fan of was the ending with the goat I wanted a little bit more from their interaction with each other. But over I loved this book and 100% would recommend!
December 6, 2022
I really didn’t like this book. The story was nothing like I thought it was going to be. I couldn’t stay interested at all. I kept having to put it down because I just couldn’t get into it. I hate having to write these kind of reviews because I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn’t power through anymore. It just wasn’t for me. Thank you for the opportunity to read this even though I didn’t like the book
December 5, 2022
Holy Ghost Road by John Mantooth is a great coming of age supernatural horror.
15-year-old Forest is on the run from her soon to be stepfather, Nesmith, after seeing him with a demon goat in the barn. She heads to her grandmothers house that is 40 miles away. She has to be careful with who she can trust along the way.
Thank you Cemetery Dance and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
15-year-old Forest is on the run from her soon to be stepfather, Nesmith, after seeing him with a demon goat in the barn. She heads to her grandmothers house that is 40 miles away. She has to be careful with who she can trust along the way.
Thank you Cemetery Dance and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2022
I have been a huge fan of John Mantooth (who also writes as Hank Early) for several years, and the third entry in his superb Earl Marcus Mystery series
Echoes of the Fall
(2019) features prominently in my Horror DNA top ten novels of 2019 with its predecessor
In the Valley of the Devil
also making my Best of 2018 Horror DNA list. If you are interested in ‘Appalachian Noir’ or ‘Hillbilly Noir,’ then this detective trilogy set in the mountains of north Georgia is unmissable. John currently has ‘Hank’ on hiatus, as 2021 saw the long overdue rerelease of his magnificent genre-bending debut collection
Shoebox Train Wreck
, which also cards another Horror DNA 5/5* maximum score, being top-heavy with top-tier short stories.
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.
October 18, 2022
Some roads are haunted by the past, Some by ghosts, Some are even haunted by demons. The one forest must travel is haunted by all three.
When she discovers pastor Nesmith praying to a demonic entity in her family’s barn.Forest knows she must run. Enraged at the possibility of having his true allegiance exposed. Nesmith pursues Forest as she flees on foot, hoping to reach the one person who will believe her, her grandmother unfortunately Granny is forty miles away, and Forest has no car, no phone, and no friends. To reach her, Forest will have to learn to see the world true, even as the demonic and the sacred wage war for her soul.
Really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank you NetGalley and Cemetery Dance Publications
I just reviewed Holy Ghost Road by John Mantooth. #HolyGhostRoad #NetGalley
When she discovers pastor Nesmith praying to a demonic entity in her family’s barn.Forest knows she must run. Enraged at the possibility of having his true allegiance exposed. Nesmith pursues Forest as she flees on foot, hoping to reach the one person who will believe her, her grandmother unfortunately Granny is forty miles away, and Forest has no car, no phone, and no friends. To reach her, Forest will have to learn to see the world true, even as the demonic and the sacred wage war for her soul.
Really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank you NetGalley and Cemetery Dance Publications
I just reviewed Holy Ghost Road by John Mantooth. #HolyGhostRoad #NetGalley
June 23, 2023
On the surface of things this is the story of a girl named Forest who is in very real danger from her stepfather, the kind of evil man who wears the mask of a religious leader to do his harm. Forest saw something that set her off running when she witnessed it in the barn near her house, she isn't quite sure what it was or what it means, but she knows it is imperative that she reaches the safety of her granny and the safety of her genuine spiritual strength to face it. There is, of course, a great deal more going on here than that, and it is the journey as much as the destination and it's ultimate confrontation that are the point.
I think there's something you'll need to understand about Appalachian storytelling and granny magic to grasp just how satisfying this book is, and not everyone is going to have that sense of things in their nature. I grew up with both things and I cant quite put into words how very personal and homey that feel is in a good story that gets it right like Holy Ghost Road genuinely does. It is a story, a good one, but it's also a way to teach and acknowledge a thing you already know but haven't accepted or maybe just don't see clearly until it comes into focus in your mind. I absolutely loved this one and intend to look into Mantooth's other works on the basis of it, I hope many others will too.
I think there's something you'll need to understand about Appalachian storytelling and granny magic to grasp just how satisfying this book is, and not everyone is going to have that sense of things in their nature. I grew up with both things and I cant quite put into words how very personal and homey that feel is in a good story that gets it right like Holy Ghost Road genuinely does. It is a story, a good one, but it's also a way to teach and acknowledge a thing you already know but haven't accepted or maybe just don't see clearly until it comes into focus in your mind. I absolutely loved this one and intend to look into Mantooth's other works on the basis of it, I hope many others will too.
November 28, 2022
When Forrest wakes up in a hazy stupor and sees her new stepfather communing with a demonic goat creature she knows her only time to get away is now and so she does. While on the run she Meets Isaac and before it’s over they will become the caretakers to Little Edie. They must be careful who they trust because although it’s only 30 miles to the safety of her grandmother‘s home those miles are populated with her step fathers believers. He is the new sensational pastor who people believe performs miracles in the name of God, but Forrest knows what gives him the power to do such things and it isn’t our Lord and Savior. She also knows the only person that can help her defeat him is her grandmother but she needs her dream stone but she has no clue where it’s at. Can she find the Dreamstone and make it to her grandmothers house before he finds her and this time she can’t get away? this is a great book about good and evil and it plays off of the goat man urban legend. It’s well written fast paced midpoints it’s on the edge of your seat reading a truly great story. If you love the paranormal, good against evil Then you Will love Holy Ghost Road by John Mantooth I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review..
October 10, 2022
Solid tale from Mantooth about a young girl named Forest who witnesses her mother's boyfriend, a smarmy preacher named Nesmith, collaborating with a demon goat creature in the barn and decides to go on the run to see her grandma, a mystic of sorts who may be able to protect her from Nesmith and the demon, who have ideas of their own for Forest. Very well-written and surprisingly subdued considering the horror-tinged subject matter, which actually works to its advantage. Not the usual "evil demon" story you might expect to get from the genre, which is a good thing. It's really a character-driven story with enough supernatural doings and creepy settings to keep things interesting the whole way through. Much better than I'd expected. I'll have to look for other works from Mantooth. Highly recommended.
December 27, 2022
This might have been the weirdest book I have ever read. Not because it wasn't good, but I spent the whole book feeling like I had missed something. Like the book started in the middle of a story I never did hear the start of.
The concept was amazing but the execution was really odd to me.
The writing was good too, I just felt a little lost 50% of the time and this normally doesn't happen to me!
The concept was amazing but the execution was really odd to me.
The writing was good too, I just felt a little lost 50% of the time and this normally doesn't happen to me!
January 12, 2023
This was definitely a book, that I couldn't put down because so many things didn't make sense. My brain needed to know more before trying to unravel the mystery throughout this book.
I'm still at a loss as to how I feel about it. I wish there could have been more definitive answers about some things.
But in the end the book was somewhat satisfying to finish. But now I feel like I have way more questions than I started with.
I'm still at a loss as to how I feel about it. I wish there could have been more definitive answers about some things.
But in the end the book was somewhat satisfying to finish. But now I feel like I have way more questions than I started with.
December 11, 2022
I would describe this novel as southern horror-fantasy. Such a good read with a compelling main character, written in first person. The way this is written makes it so easy to picture and feel everything that is happening, which leaves such an emotional impact. Loved it!
November 10, 2022
If you're looking for a southern fried thriller with a bit of introspection then Holy Ghost Road definitely hits the mark!
Right off the bat I'll say that this book absolutely knows how to set the mood, giving us description after perfect description of just what it's like to live in the deep south, where everyone knows everyone, and a bit of magic still lingers if you look hard enough. The action starts right off, grabbing your attention and giving you most of the important players in the book immediately. Forest is a plucky young girl, running from something she doesn't understand. Throw in a cult leader, his terrifying sister, and their dead eyes henchman, and you've got the making for a great book.
While it doesn't have the gore and deaths that might be typical of the genre, Holy Ghost Road brings a unique horror to the table, of fighting something very human but not, something bigger than yourself, with a reach that seems almost impossible to grasp. The level of reverence with which John Mantooth describes magic and the Holy Ghost throughout the novel really makes every interaction and revelation that Forest encounters feel genuine and heartfelt.
My only criticism with the novel was the brevity in it's wrap-up. Not to give anything away but the scene felt short, and after all the build up, I may have pictured something more grandiose in scale. Otherwise it was a wonderful light read, with enjoyable characters that I found myself rooting for time and time again, despite all the odds being stacked against them. Would definitely reccomend.
Right off the bat I'll say that this book absolutely knows how to set the mood, giving us description after perfect description of just what it's like to live in the deep south, where everyone knows everyone, and a bit of magic still lingers if you look hard enough. The action starts right off, grabbing your attention and giving you most of the important players in the book immediately. Forest is a plucky young girl, running from something she doesn't understand. Throw in a cult leader, his terrifying sister, and their dead eyes henchman, and you've got the making for a great book.
While it doesn't have the gore and deaths that might be typical of the genre, Holy Ghost Road brings a unique horror to the table, of fighting something very human but not, something bigger than yourself, with a reach that seems almost impossible to grasp. The level of reverence with which John Mantooth describes magic and the Holy Ghost throughout the novel really makes every interaction and revelation that Forest encounters feel genuine and heartfelt.
My only criticism with the novel was the brevity in it's wrap-up. Not to give anything away but the scene felt short, and after all the build up, I may have pictured something more grandiose in scale. Otherwise it was a wonderful light read, with enjoyable characters that I found myself rooting for time and time again, despite all the odds being stacked against them. Would definitely reccomend.
November 7, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. A sort of twisted, Southern gothic version of The Wizard of Oz, only instead of the wizard, you have a wise woman and instead of the wicked witch you have a demonic preacher. As for the flying monkeys, the preacher’s sister, Ruby Jewel, is one of the most terrifying villains I’ve encountered in horror fiction lately.
Recommended.
Recommended.
October 12, 2022
We meet Forest, a girl of 15, running through the woods trying to escape her evil stepfather Nesmith. The locals refer to him as “Brother Nesmith” and most of them are the congregation at his church and are completely under his spell and control. What is disguised as a Godly church is quite the opposite, for when Forest says her stepfather is evil she speaks the truth. She has witnessed his evil and now she’s running for her life. Along the way she crosses paths with Elijah, a young man lost in the woods without his shoes, phone or car keys. Elijah ran into the woods after having his own creepy scare. They make a deal to help each other and the adventure/ordeal begins as they flee Nesmith, his blind giant sister, his hulking “assistant/bone breaker” Helmet and the mysterious “Goat Shadow” that seems to be attached to Nesmith, yet has a kind of its own.
Unfortunately, I found the story to be repetitive and tedious. Forest and Elijah running or swimming, getting wet and hungry, drying off only to fall into the lake again, finding food only to leave it because Nesmith is too close. Danger-safety-bad person-kind person-safety-danger, etc. I was hoping for the shadow goat to speak up at some point. That said, the ending wraps the story up just fine. Thank you to #netgalley for opportunity to read and review #HolyGhostRoad.
Unfortunately, I found the story to be repetitive and tedious. Forest and Elijah running or swimming, getting wet and hungry, drying off only to fall into the lake again, finding food only to leave it because Nesmith is too close. Danger-safety-bad person-kind person-safety-danger, etc. I was hoping for the shadow goat to speak up at some point. That said, the ending wraps the story up just fine. Thank you to #netgalley for opportunity to read and review #HolyGhostRoad.
September 13, 2023
This was quite the coming of age story about a girl named Forest. Her journey is one of miles, magic, and mysticism. It was a little on the religious side, but considering the content matter, the location the plot plays out in, and the connections between nature and the world around us, it overall wasn’t too preachy.
I really liked the references to the animals, especially Forest’s encounter with the Diamondback. The characters of Elijah and Edie, as well as the evil Nesmith and Ruby Jewel, were well developed and interesting.
The end left me with some questions… what happened to Ben? Were the cult followers aware of how mislead they had been? What was the significance of Edie to Nesmith (he told her father not to let others touch her). I feel these questions should have been answered but never were.
Thank you to Cemetery Dance & the author for a copy!
I really liked the references to the animals, especially Forest’s encounter with the Diamondback. The characters of Elijah and Edie, as well as the evil Nesmith and Ruby Jewel, were well developed and interesting.
The end left me with some questions… what happened to Ben? Were the cult followers aware of how mislead they had been? What was the significance of Edie to Nesmith (he told her father not to let others touch her). I feel these questions should have been answered but never were.
Thank you to Cemetery Dance & the author for a copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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