Full disclosure: I love Giano Cromley. I've worked with him on a few of his previous titles and I love cryptid fiction, so when I saw this was releasiFull disclosure: I love Giano Cromley. I've worked with him on a few of his previous titles and I love cryptid fiction, so when I saw this was releasing, it was an absolute no-brainer. I had to have it.
Montana locals Jute and Vergil are overheard at St. Pete’s Tavern discussing plans for a Basic Bigfoot Society expedition. Renowned Bigfoot expert Dr. Marcus Bernard leans over and promptly invites himself along. He’s accompanied by Vicky Xu, a young graduate student filming a documentary about him, and Jute and Vergil can’t believe their luck. But Bernard’s intentions may not be entirely noble and when Vergil’s daughter Rye hears about the trip, she insists on joining—not for the squatch hunt, but to protect her dad and Uncle Jute from potential embarrassment and exploitation.
What began as a modest two-man search for the elusive North American Woodape and the mythical Ramsey Lake quickly evolves into a ragtag crew of misfits, each driven by their own reasons—some chasing proof, others seeking to debunk it. As they venture deeper into the wilderness, they’re forced to confront painful truths from their pasts while pursuing one of the most haunted and hunted cryptids in American folklore.
At its core, American Mythology is a Bigfoot story, sure. But it’s also about having the courage to chase what you believe in. It’s about surrendering to grief. And it’s about the relentless pursuit of truth, no matter the cost.
I was a little worried when I started this one. The beginning felt a bit sloggy and the writing took some Well, that took a dark turn fast, didn’t it?
I was a little worried when I started this one. The beginning felt a bit sloggy and the writing took some getting used to... but once I settled in, it really took off. And let’s be honest - who doesn’t love a good carnie novel?
Set in the 1990s in the small, conservative Scottish town of Pitlaw—a place with its own buried secrets—a traveling freakshow sets up camp in a vacant field. The locals clutch their pearls at the incoming “degenerates”, scandalized by the velvet-clad oddities invading their quiet lives. But the sounds and smells soon lure them in.
At its center of the spectacle are Gloria, a fortune teller with a taste for vengeance, and her daughter Nancy, a contortionist with witchy talents. Their arrival isn’t just a performance. It’s an omen. They aren’t just here to entertain... they’re here to settle a score. And by the time the curtain falls, Pitlaw will be irrevocably changed.
Like the best carnival fiction, this novel is teeming with oddball misfits, queer sensuality, and a wicked undercurrent. It's strange, seductive, and sinister—in all the right ways.
Step right up—revenge is the real sideshow....more
Oh no. Oh no no no no no! Oh maaan. This one just wasn’t for me. I made it about 100 pages in before I had to tap out.
I’ve adored Stephen’s past work—Oh no. Oh no no no no no! Oh maaan. This one just wasn’t for me. I made it about 100 pages in before I had to tap out.
I’ve adored Stephen’s past work—Braineater Jones and The Perfectly Fine House are both absolute gems, and I recommend them to anyone who’ll listen. But this one? It felt like it got body-snatched. Was it the co-author? A cursed manuscript? Some unholy genre mash that defies the natural order? I don’t know. The voice felt off, like it had been diluted or pulled in too many directions.
I kept thinking, “I can’t do this for 300 more pages" and eventually I just noped out.
And it pains me to say it because I adore Stephen and love featuring him on my blog. I had such high hopes—Roger Rabbit meets horror? Yes, please. But it just didn’t click for me.
I wanted to love it. I really did. And the publisher even sent me a pretty print copy for review. I feel like I owe someone an apology fruit basket. Instead, I’m crawling into my little reader's remorse cave for some quiet reflection (and maybe snacks).
This book was the perfect “plant yourself on the patio and revel in the fact that you’re not adrift at sea” kind of summer read. Think fruity cocktailThis book was the perfect “plant yourself on the patio and revel in the fact that you’re not adrift at sea” kind of summer read. Think fruity cocktail in one hand, bug zapper in the other, and a silent prayer that there are no colossal carnivorous calamari in your zip code.
Set aboard a cruise ship slicing through open ocean, Tori and Nora—two hilariously self-assured, body-positive rockstars—are prepping to open for Vampire Weekend. But when a massive, bloodthirsty vampire squid rises from the depths and turns the deck into a splatterfest buffet, the glam gig turns into a gory survival showdown.
The body count may be high, but it’s the razor-sharp sarcasm that really leaves a mark. Equal parts horror romp and dark comedy delight, this novelette had me grinning through the gore. It’s high-octane, deep-sea drama with a pulse of pure punk. I devoured it like a ravenous beast from the briny deep. More, please.
If you're into books with high campy horror vibes, like the ones Danger Slater, Stephen Kozeniewski, and Brian Allen Carr write, you should get Nico Bell on your radar. ...more