Oh Prose, The prose.

I am a fan of the author from the prose alone. Then he hit me with rich characters and immersive worlds. There not a single thing to cringe or frown about. Bam! Bam! Bam! He came. He delivered. He left.

I don't read horror and gore but for this author, I am going to read more.

This is an extremely well written novel. You can tell the author really puts his heart and soul into his writing. It's well researched and thought through. The book gives off very gothic vibes. I suggest people give this author a chance!

Coy Hall was a new-to-me author and although conceptually this should be right up my alley, I had a hard time getting into it and enjoying my time.

Again I find myself in the minority.

Despite the premise, I did not find myself engaged in the narrative. I am not really a fan of supernatural fiction but thought I would give it a go as it's set within an historical fiction context. I did not finish this. I am sure there are others who will more fully engage with this tome.

A thrilling and exciting historical horror, a gorgeous cover, excellent storyteller.
it kept me hooked and reading
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Interesting read. Dark -ish. I like main character, he's strong and sensible with knowledge to do his job properly even when disturbed. Hard to say anything bad about it really. Good for dark fantasy fans.

Ok how much I really liked this book surprised me. So many dnf lately that I went in to this with little hope no matter how much it intrigued me.
A really well written historical book, I truely hope we will see these characters again.
Coy Hill is now in my watch list.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book

Dark and atmospheric, this book was a masterpiece of historical horror. It was gruesome and I loved it. Coy Hall will be going on my *automatic purchase* list. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

There are some books out there that start off a little rough around the edges. The more you read, the more you find it actually suits the narrative. A Promise of Plague Wolves is one of those books. I found the characters and precise writing style to be a little jarring. This does eventually level out to make the book hard to put down.

This strange amalgamation of horror, historical fiction, folklore and religion make for a very atmospheric story. Its the kind of dark and fantastic that if you’re a fan of Guillermo del Toro, you’ll really enjoy. The visuals presented at times make your skin want to crawl. (I’d advise not eating if you have a sensitive stomach)
You’re dealing with two plagues. One being small pox and the other that crossbreeds what feels like doppelgangers and ghouls. Dorin Toth and his faithful hound are sent into a small village to investigate the more occult aspects of what is going on. The characters we meet are empathetic, flawed, and well fleshed out. I'm not talking just the human characters. Hall’s incorporation of using the animals as part of his storytelling is quite refreshing, if not disturbing.

Overall its a solid story. I found the ending to be rather tidier then I expected given the rest of the plot. I honestly wonder if this particular story wouldn't be better served in visual medium because of the finale. There’s only so much you can present with a written description regardless of how talented the writer is. For my first experience with this author I'm interested enough to track down some more of their work.

Meet Dorin Toth. In 17th century Austria, the famed occultist and investigator wanders the countryside of Austria. A land beset by plague and rot, in the real and metaphysical sense. With his faithful greyhound Vinegar Tom at his side, Toth seems to find the secrets of the supernatural epidemic and the truth behind the ancient spirit Old Raum, whose agents haunt the mortal plane.

From the start, Coy Hall writes with a sense of nostalgia. One could easily mistake “The Promise of Plague Wolves” as the novelization of a Hammer Horror film that never was. Hall seems well aware of the tradition in which he writes, with numerous references both historical and fictional in nature.

The story unfolds like a grim mystery. “Plague Wolves” begins with Dorin Toth already a seasoned investigator, so Hall writes as though this is just another adventure that the reader has been fortunate enough to witness. Though while we do get a sense of Toth’s character, it feels at times like the development for Toth has already happened. Throughout the book, there seems little by way of personal stake for Toth as opposed to simply solving another mystery and fighting the forces of evil.

Nevertheless, there is enough about Toth to remain interesting and dynamic. His love for Vinegar Tom is a constant bright spot through what is a very dark narrative. Hall spares little room for ensuring the villains are suitably monstrous. A grieving occultist has brought down the forces of hell upon the region and Hall delights in portraying the resultant slaughter and monstrosity that ensues, while simultaneously giving Old Raum’s heralds, Grau and Toader, little moments of depth that serve to flesh them out.

But the book can simply not be topped for sheer atmosphere. Horror lurks in the pages like an oppressive mist, and Hall builds his lore from pieces of real occultism and history, while keeping it just fictional enough. It’s an excellent sojourn into darkness with Dorin Toth that’ll leave the reader hungry for another jaunt with him and his faithful Tom.

This is my second book from this author and this one is something very special. If any book I have read this year deserves 5 stars it's this one.

Set in Austria in 1686 as two plagues ruin the country. The first being small pox invading and desecrating the bodies of its victims and the second more of a mystery with the dead being seen or heard from a distance after burial.

We follow Dorin Toth an occult investigator with the church and his companion a greyhound Vinegar Tom as they settle into a small village town ravaged by both plagues to seek answers to the strange happenings. That's the basic outline of the plot.

What that plot doesnt tell you is how absolutely immersive this is to read. The world building in this is some of the best I have read. The way the town, the people, the customs, the language is all described transports you to 1686. I was blown away by how well the author is at conveying the visuals to the reader of the time period. The attention to detail is superb.

This is not just historical fiction however it is deeply horrific. From the descriptions of the infectious small pox to the occult elements which invoke some absolutely ghastly creatures. This is not for the squeamish as body horror plays a large part in this book.

The characters are wonderful. You get attached to Dorin Toth and his greyhound Vinegar Tom instantly. The greyhound and another dog we meet in the book play large roles in its story and are amazing characters you genuinely care for. Outside of the occult villains we also have some human ones a Doctor from the church who opposes Dorins work and is a despicable person who you just hate from the start. It's a credit to the authors writing to write a character which invoked such emotions from me.

This is historical horror at its absolute best. This author honestly deserves to be a household name like King and Koontz. This book is that good and a must read.

This had a great concept for a horror novel, it had everything that I was looking for from the description. I thought it was a great concept for a eldritch genre. The characters felt like they were suppose to and worked with the plot. Coy Hall does everything that I was hoping for.

The Promise of Plague Wolves is a historical fiction horror set in Austria in 1686. The land is being left desolate by the plague: smallpox. But for those with a more discerning eye, a second plague is wreaking havoc, one of the occult nature. Daniel Toth, a famed occultist and investigator, along with his trust dog Vinegar Tom, must find its source and eradicate it before Toth becomes a victim himself.

This book was so atmospheric I was pulled in immediately. Hall does an excellent job presenting a sickness riddled town in the Austrian countryside. The setting is haunting as people begin to waste away and the infection spreads at dizzying rates. But more haunting is the dark occurrences hiding in the shadows. The dead are seen walking around again, seals of demonic origins appear, etc. Toth is an interesting character and I absolutely loved Vinegar Tom. The monsters are real in Drunstall, but the worst may still be human. The pacing was a little slow in the beginning, but it is worth the build up once the action and terror truly begin. I have never read anything quite like this and I can't recommend it enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and NoseTouch Press for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.

The Promise of Plague Wolves was brilliant! A fantastic supernatural horror. Love the dogs! Unusual to see a greyhound and a pyrenees in a story. These two were characters in their own right.
Coy Hall is a new-to-me author and I'm sorry its taking me so long to come across his work. I'll definitely be looking for more of his books.
A word of warning, some of the scenes are decidedly gruesome. If you're squeamish, take care!
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

After diving into my first Coy Hall book, my immediate sentiment is sheer amazement. The universe in which the tale unfolds is intricately crafted, pulling readers in from the get-go. The ambience is deftly woven, enveloping us in a world both familiar and novel. Every character brims with depth and personality, propelling a narrative that's compellingly penned. I can't recommend this enough! I'm eagerly looking forward to exploring more of Coy Hall's literary world. A heartfelt thanks to Coy Hall, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this complimentary copy, and the opportunity to provide a genuine review.

Two plagues rage in the countryside. One plague is smallpox, a torturous disease that ravages the body, turning homes into tombs. The other ailment is more mysterious, a scourge of occult origin, a plague that ravages the mind and consumes the soul.

A very interesting and unique horror novel. Loved it.

I devoured this book. Dark, horrific, and moving. I really enjoyed it and we will be buying it for my library.

I haven't read any other Coy Hall books and my first reaction after finishing this is "Wow! This was outstanding!" The world this takes place in is masterfully created and sucks you right into it from the first page. The atmosphere is skillfully created. The characters are well developed and the story is well written. I would highly recommend this! I will be definitely checking out more books by Coy Hall. Special Thank You to Coy Hall, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Oh how I loved this book. Medieval tales with supernatural elements is my all time favorite. Like Karen Maitland. This novel had plagues, undead, ghosts, and doggos. I just wish it had been longer. Would love to see this as an ongoing series.

I didn’t expect the gross, gooey mixture of the undead, ghosts, and folklore presented within the pages, but I loved them!

The characters were exceptionally well drawn, and believable for people living in the seventeenth century. My suspension of disbelief was never stretched by them appearing to be too modern in their thoughts or actions, nor did they ever become puppets dancing to the author’s tune. I particularly liked Dorin, as well as Anna and Cili’s children from the village.

The dogs were the highlight of this book for me. Tom and the other canines were wonderful characters, as important as any of the humans in the book, without losing any of their canine nature. The author obviously knows dogs, for he writes about them with such love and accuracy. It is one of the best depictions of friendship between man and dog that I’ve ever read. There is true respect to the dog, without delving into sentiment.

Congratulations to Nosetouch Press for the beautiful presentation of this book. I loved the note at the back of the book about the font makers from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. I found it surprisingly touching.

The horror element is imaginative and satisfying. The writing is excellent. I enjoyed ‘The Promise of Plague Wolves’ and I highly recommend it.