In 2019 my health started going down hill and I didn't take into consideration what that would mean for my book reviewing. Sadly, I've been trying to play catch up for years and it's been affecting my ability to keep up with present day tasks. So I greatly apologize for this but I am going to clear out all these older review books and focus on present day. I will come back and update this review if I end up reading the book, which is very possible as a lot of these books are still ones I would like to read, I just don't think the pressure looming over me is helpful. Thank you for giving me a chance to early read these books and I am so sorry I wasn't able to provide what was needed.

Great book! It had all the fears of growing up. Make a choice. Turn the page or close the book. Enter the darkness if you wish!

John Mantooth's "Holy Ghost Road" is a gritty and compelling journey through the underbelly of American life, a novel that crackles with raw emotion and unflinching honesty. The story explores a world of desperation, addiction, and broken dreams. Mantooth's prose is stark and powerful, capturing the harsh realities of this world with a visceral intensity that is both unsettling and captivating.

The novel's strength lies in its unflinching portrayal of the struggles it depicts. The narrative explores themes of redemption, or perhaps not quite redemption, but a hard-won understanding of self and the world. The complexities of human nature are on full display, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected lives.

Mantooth's writing is lean and muscular, devoid of sentimentality. The ugliness of the situations is not shied away from, but moments of grace and beauty are also found amidst the darkness. The dialogue is sharp and authentic, capturing the rhythms and nuances of everyday speech. The setting, [Setting - please insert, e.g., a rural landscape, a forgotten town], becomes almost a character itself, shaping the lives within it.

While the novel's gritty realism is one of its strengths, it may not appeal to all readers. The language can be rough, and the themes explored are often dark and disturbing. However, for those who appreciate unflinching portrayals of life on the margins, "Holy Ghost Road" is a powerful and unforgettable read. It's a novel that will stay with you long after you've finished it, leaving you pondering the complexities of human nature and the enduring search for meaning in a world that often seems indifferent.

I unfortunately did not read this book back in 2022 as I was in a hard place in my life and the content wasn't for me at the time.

Stars: 3.5

Thank you Cemetery Dance Publications | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for allowing me to read and review Holy Ghost Road by John Mantooth for my honest opinion left on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon when possible.

Published: 12/20/22

A really fast page turning story for me. I read on my Kindle and fought with myself clicking the pages too early or the wrong way in my haste. I don't want to take away from the author or over sell him; however, I want to point out my font is pretty big and therefore fewer words per page leads me to a lot of page turning.

This could have been a 4.5 to 5 star read for me. I would recommend reading the synopsis. There are inferences and references to ghosts, the holy spirit and logic. My friend, Carol (Goodreads) would not enjoy this. The star deduction is for the vulgar unnecessary scene and the use of the F--- because Mantooth could. Both took away from a smart story.

The story is easy to read and a true thinker. I loved the writing, barring the above mentioned. I was mentally exhausted when finished.

Note: This gave me 70s movie vibes Race With the Devil -- that added to my angst.

I would appeal to the author to clean the work up and republish. He has too much talent to sell himself short. I buy and recommend unapologetically and I can't with this.

Holy Ghost Road had several things about it that I liked, with some great suspenseful moments, an intriguing premise, and a main character I was routing for the whole time. However, the pacing at times was off for me, and there were some plot holes that I felt could have been handled better.

This story follows a teenager, Forest, who is trying to escape from her stepfather, who just so happens to worship the devil. The story is only told through Forest's point of view, and it would have been nice at times to perhaps get another POV. Overall though, I enjoyed this one and it certainly had some great creepy moments.

Religious Folk Horror With Heaps Of Heart!

When 15 year old Forest witnesses Pastor Nesmith praying to a horned demon in the family barn, she knows that she is in danger. She sets off on foot trying to cross 40 miles of wilderness to reach her grandmother, the only person with the power to help her. Alone, without money, a phone, or a car, she must learn to trust herself if she hopes to survive.

I loved this book. The characters are well developed, the back story is strong to support ongoing action, and the pacing keeps the story moving forward as Forest works to reach her grandmother. My chief complaint is the circuitous route that Forest takes as she works towards her goal. There are a couple of false starts and restarts that she makes, that perhaps could have been plotted out differently. But what secures this book is the heart that it contains.

The growth of Forest as she journeys, her relationships with those that she encounters along the way, and deep truths about life, faith, and magic that John incorporates into the climax and conclusion of this book are so well written. This is a book that teaches us a lot about the world that we live in. Highly recommended.

I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really was pleasantly surprised by this little horror book. It was fast paced, creepy, and the characters were well rounded and enjoyable. I was able to submerge myself completely in the story and it swept me away.

Wow, this was a really great tale about believing in yourself and the power of nature....loved the characters, the growth, and the plot. Steady pace and suspenseful.

A delightful Southern Gothic coming-of-age story with folky horror, demons and religion. It was beautifully written, a pleasure to read! Loved the characters and the story development.

An utterly delightful story that weaves magic, fantasy, and the poignant journey to adulthood of a young girl from the South.

With its enchanting Southern Gothic ambience, this book takes you on a thrilling rollercoaster of a read, ensured I remained perched at the very edge of my seat.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well, that was quite a trip. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Well-paced and written thriller/horror story packed with action. I would say even coming of age in a way. Told entirely from one person’s perspective – mind, dreams and reality intertwine to a point where you start questioning what is what. There are interesting twists and turns and a great dark, chilling atmosphere throughout the book. A great quick read for the dark and rainy autumn evenings.

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 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

Read this if you like: Southern Gothic, rich, beautiful prose, coming-of-age with a demonic twist
Horror, religion, and folklore all meet on the Holy Ghost Road. Lingers long after the final page.

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.”

Pretty good read! If you're a horror lover I'd definitely recommend!

The storyline was very interesting, it sucked me in and had me glued to my Kindle! Definitely don't miss out on this one! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

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.

A southern-fried good versus evil tale that is exciting and terrifying from the first page. Forest can dream walk. Some call it sleepwalking but she and her Granny know better. She is in the space between awake and dreaming. A place you can find the Holy Ghost or yourself if you know how and where to look. Forest is a character that you just don't root for. You walk beside her, you feel her fear, her desperation, her hope, and all you can do is cheer her on and pray she finds inside herself what she knows she knows.
Definitely one to read this year. recommended.
Thanks to @netgalley for the opportunity to read the eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I received an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
For horror junkies, I would definitely recommend this book. My first read from John Mantooth and I will definitely be visiting more of his novels.