I'm in my mystery and fantasy era, and picking up this book was a nice addition to my list. I was really intrigued with the premise of the book, but more than that, it kept me intrigued until the end. The magic system, twists, and pacing were all great. I enjoyed learning who Asher is and what made him so unique, and the author did a great job getting me to like him. Even the writing style, which at times I was a little slow to fully grasp, made me feel like I was in this town and with these characters. I wish there was more imagery to it, which sounds strange for a book with good descriptions, but I was having a hard time imagining "higher colors." I will be picking up the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the chance to read this book!

The Book of Light by Kevin Hincker
⭐⭐💫
#netgalley published 9/14/23
#selfpublished
#mystery #fantasy

I tried, I really did. I just could not continue. I loved the sound of the story. It's different. It's new. But nope. Not for me. It might still be for you. I had recently read a book about scents and was fascinated by it. So I thought a book about colors would be just as great. Sorry. This book was not for me. I know I said that already but...

The writing in the beginning seemed choppy to me. Sometimes when picking up a book by a new author, I need to get used to the cadence of their writing. I never managed to get used to it. For me, most of the sentences remained choppy and awkward.

I was hoping for spectacular descriptions of visuals by specific color names. But not as much as I had expected. Descriptions happened but not fluidly as I had hoped. I am a crafter into jewelry. A sewist. I know colors by pretty specific names. It just didn't really happen. And the way the MC could see "higher" colors just didn't work for me. The descriptions of these higher colors didn't make sense in my head. I kept trying. But I just could not keep going any more.

I'm sorry. This was a DNF for me.

#theghostwiththeknifeatherthroat
#thebookoflight #kevinhincker
#bookstagram #bookrecommendation #booknerdsbookreview #bookreview

i loved the author's writing in this and i am hopeful he will write more hopefully successful works in the future. i loved the blend of genres

So I ended up listening to this on audible-I didn't know it was previously released. While I did enjoy the originality and dry sense of humor to this the AI voice narration is a HUGE distractor from the story. This series is funny, original and I will continue reading it but I will be reading it and not listening to it.
I'm planning a post with sprayed edged to the physical copy (I'm crafting it) and a colorful vodka based cocktail (Asher would want it that way) LOL
Are there any physical copies that you can send me? Like a hardcover? I can only find paperback
Thank you for letting me have this ARC

What just happened? 😅

This book has such a complex and very interesting magic system (for lack of better words). It jumps right into it and I was a little confused at first, but it wasn’t hard to follow.

A unique story. I enjoyed this one, but I’m still not sure if I will move on to the second in the series.

I enjoyed this read, it was a little slow to start but once it did I was INVESTED! I enjoyed the urban fantasy feel and the tense nature that was Asher Gale. And can. We discuss the ending?! The last 20% of the book I couldn’t stop turning pages!


Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Ghost with a Knife at Her Throat is a title that led me to expect a gothic, but instead it is a twisty and witty thriller, cleverly written, with a novel fantasy-tinged premise and an unlikely hero. It reminded me a little bit of The Tainted Cup -one of my favorite books of 2024. Another murder mystery where the main character's atypical abilities. Read this book to find out about Skysill Beach and its secrets. This one is best going in fairly blind. I enjoyed the story, the prose, the characters enough that I will auto-buy book 2.

Name of Book: The Ghost with the Knife at Her Throat
Author: Kevin Hincker
Series: History of Light Book #1
Genre: Mystery, Sci-Fi, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Independently Published by the Author
Pub Date was: September 23, 2023
My Rating: 2.6 rounded up
Pages: 304

Story is based in Skysill Beach a small beach artist colony in Southern California.
(Living in Southern California Laguna Beach of course came to my mind. Once know has a large hippie community now very much a tourist attraction with small unique shops no big chain stores, many small beach lodging and a few big luxury Hotels.)

Asher Gale is able to see beyond the normal colors. This talent pulls him into a murder mystery following a ghost instead of drinking at his favorite bar.
Asher wants to solve the murder of a wealthy art dealer’s daughter so uses ultraviolet colors.

True this isn’t my normal Psychological Thriller or Cozy Mystery (Yes I love both I realize that Psychological and Cozy typically aren’t in the same sentence or genre.)

This story is Book #1 in the five book series “The History of Light”
It was an okay read. Yes there are four more in this series all release and Book #5 has a Pub Date of May 15, 2024
• Book # 2 [book: The Question in the Dancer’s Kiss] – Book of Sound
• Book #3 [book: The Shadow Waiting on the Throne] – Book of Scent
• Book #4 [book: The Sacrifice the Dead will Make] – Book of Taste
• Book #5 [book: The Curse at the End of the World] Book of Touch

About the Author- Kevin Hincker! His bio states that he writes speculative fiction for curious readers!

Want to thank NetGalley and Independent Publisher Kevin Hincker for this eGalley.
Publishing Release Date was – September 23, 2023.

I think this was a great book if you enjoy the writing style. I tried to love it, as one friend recommended this to me, but I really struggled to get into this and it took me over 10 days to complete.

The narrator is sassy, the premise is intriguing, and it is a very colorful prose that is used. But it unfortunately it was not for me!

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read and review.

This book was fantastic! I loved how sassy the main character was throughout the entire book and was pleasantly surprised to find that this was book 1 in a series. Murder mystery Fantasy. What’s not to like? The unique magical elements through the book led me on a roller coaster of beautiful world-building and plot twists I did not see coming.

This book was a unique masterpiece that must’ve taken the mind of a genius. This story is one that will not only confuse me but one which I will treasure forever, simply because of the different aspects. I have never read anything like it and I am so grateful I was able to experience the rollercoaster of emotions, information, and development. I’m not going to lie, there was so much information that I needed to comprehend with every page that it tired me out easily. However, even then I still found myself coming back every time not even a few hours later. This book had me constantly on my toes and always thinking. Even now letting it all sink in for a few days I still find myself thinking back to the intricate details and plot of this novel. The Ghost with a knife at her throat by Kevin Hlncker is a true masterpiece.

The Ghost with a Knife at Her Throat is the first volume in a 5 book UF/paranormal/mystery series by Kevin Hincker. Released 14th Aug 2023, it's 274 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU. The fifth and final book is due out 15th May 2024.

This is an extremely trippy book with some interesting world building (some gifted artists are able to see outside the visible light spectrum, and some can use pigments which tap into subliminal compulsions). The MC is a former prodigy who gave up painting because it caused him seizures and fugue states varying from manic behavior to near catatonia.

There are graphic descriptions of violence, suicide, mental illness, and multiple detailed passages about seizures that are so specific, I can only imagine the author has done some impressive research into epilepsy or migraine/cluster headache and neurological disorders.

It's well written but quite choppy; very much in the vein of Terry Gilliam. It's not derivative at all, but fans of China Miéville and Jeff VanderMeer will find this narrative resonates on a similar frequency. There are overarching plotlines, and the plot doesn't resolve in this volume. In fact the 5 book series deals with one sense per book (sight, sound, scent, taste, and touch).

Three and a half stars. Worth a look for fans of "New Weird" and surrealist UF. Since it's included in KU, definitely worth a look just on a whim. It's emphatically not easy reading though. It's a self-published indie title, and readers should expect some roughness and a few minor typos.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I loved Asher and his sister Amelia. This defiantly was not welcoming in the beginning, I had to reread the first two pages three times to figure out what was going on. The writing got better at points but then it was super confusing. I would give the originality a solid 5 stars. It was a good novel that mixes all the genres I LOVE. Adding the glossary helped at points but did not make it easier. I did read the preview for the second one and seemed to have improved and easier to follow. I could defiantly see this being ablenti be picked up as a script for a show.

First: WOW.
Second: Wait, WOOOW.

This clever, entertaining, and ambitious novel straddles science fiction and the classic noir detective story.

Asher Gale has a talent that has been nearly driving him mad: he can see the Higher Colors--the ones in the uv spectrum––but he cannot seem to keep a lid on his skill. Others, like his sister Amelia, see Higher and create with Higher-pigment paints and get by just fine. But Asher suffers "chroma storms" where the colors induce ecstatic seizures, and when confronted with emotional or physical trauma, he tends to Gray out (when he cannot see any color, Gray Asher becomes more or less a curious sociopath. A useful but dangerous talent.)

Asher drinks to numb the pain; his main side-gig is spotting forged paintings for a rich buddy. But when the rich buddy's daughter is found dead, Asher finds himself involved in a private investigation that keeps uncovering more and more trouble. Plus he seems to be seeing the dead girl's ghost.

One of the great charms of noir is the very specific voice of the world-weary, creatively wise-cracking anti-hero hero. And Asher fits the bill to perfection. For instance, his throw-away description of the California Coast where the action occurs: "The rocks of Manders Point piled in a basalt spine on the right. The waves beat those rocks. The rocks loved it and asked for more." And this minor character, "Her forlorn deluged off the doorway, like water from a broken dam." And this description of pulling himself out of the Gray, "...it's like having an argument with a moth where you and the moth are both drunk."

Like the best science fiction, this novel is but the first of series. It's a distinct pleasure to know the rest of the series (culminating in what the publisher bills "Odd Thomas" meets the Lord of the Rings) is available already.

Fans of fun, twisty, speculative detectives (like Christopher Moore's Noir) and supernatural mutations (Stephen Woodworth's Violet Eyes series comes to mind), step right up!

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my unfettered opinion.

At six, Asher displayed prodigious talent. Yet, seizures triggered by peculiar ultraviolet hues made painting excruciating. Now 26, he grapples with life's complexities from a bar in the secretive Southern California artist haven of Skysill Beach, moonlighting as an art sleuth. In Skysill, everyone worries about art forgeries. But for Ash, they're like painful shards. His distinctive ultraviolet sight unveils unsettling sights he'd rather avoid.This book drew me in with its unique charm. While its storytelling initially puzzled me, I soon adapted to the author's narrative style. I was charmed by the protagonist's spirited nature throughout and pleasantly surprised to learn this was just book one in a series. A mix of murder mystery and fantasy? Absolutely captivating. The story's magical elements whisked me away on a thrilling ride through detailed world-building and unforeseen plot twists.The author crafts a lively and unique setting where art is not just an outlet but also a weapon and a doorway to other worlds. Characters are intricately developed, each with their own secrets and motivations. Asher emerges as a flawed yet relatable hero, wrestling with inner demons and emotions. The book also touches on deep themes such as self-discovery, artistic expression, addiction, and destiny.A big thank you to NetGalley and Kevin Hincker for this engaging read.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

2.5 stars

I will be honest and say this book is hard to get into. I thought the concept of this book was so interesting really liked the aspect of the colors, but it felt a little like wading through mud. I wasn't a huge fan of the main character and that probably plays a big role as well. I think the main character was supposed to be stuck up guy, but one with enough redeemable qualities you ended up liking. For me, there were just two many bad traits and not enough redeemable traits to make him likable. This is a series so I might continue on to see what happens as the ending left you with so many questions unanswered.

First off, I fell in love with Asher almost immediately! I loved everything about that character. The book itself was unique- fantasy/art, ghosts, old school detective mystery.....I haven't read anything that mashed such elements together so beautifully. If you love supernatural themes and mysteries, you'll love this!

Let me introduce you to the weirdest love of my life. I don’t know if I loved it or hated it but I’m obsessed with it and told my friends about it so I’m going with love!
murder mystery, drama, dark humor and twists galore! It kept me completely captivated the entire time.

I LOVED Asher. Such a sassy character. I can’t wait for more.

Thank you so much to Kevin Hincker and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved this to its core. I enjoyed almost every element—the deep dive into this fantasy-laced art world, our barely functioning MC who's plagued by both metaphorical and real ghosts, and the murder mystery at the core of it all, propelling the story forward.

The characters were colorful; the language was rich. Asher was, for all his faults and inability to hold himself together, a fantastic character to follow and dissect and root for. He's sarcastic, pessimistic, and possibly an alcoholic, but the morally gray, unreliable facets of his character made every moment either hilarious or dangerous for his wellbeing. And when humor or his self-destructive tendencies failed him, there were hints of unexpected sensitivity that were so beautiful for their rarity.

I wouldn't know how to categorize this book, but it reminded me of old-school detective mysteries with an almost noir vibe. I can, however, say the writing was lush with sensory detail and unique, otherworldly mechanics, and the result was original and magical, and I'm thrilled the story continues and doesn't end here!

Asher Gale is a former artist who has an exceptional ability to perceive colors that are beyond human perception. However, this ability comes at a cost as it is challenging for Asher to regulate his visual experiences. The higher colors take him on a roller coaster of emotional and physical highs and lows, making it difficult for him to navigate through life.

Despite the difficulties, Asher is working towards recovery, taking it one day at a time. But his progress is derailed when a former employer compels him to solve a series of deaths and crimes. Fighting through bouts of apathy, impulsivity, and delirium, Asher pushes through, striving to solve the mystery.

Asher is a fascinating character with several peculiarities. He often belittles himself, but he is adored by many. The writing is vivid and evocative, transporting the reader into Asher's world of colors and emotions. The story is laced with a dash of humor, loads of suspense, and plenty of supernatural occurrences, making it an excellent read for those looking for something a little out of the box.

Special thanks to the author, Kevin Hinker, for providing me with a digital copy of The Ghost with a Knife at Her Throat in exchange for an honest review.