Wow. There were lots of moving parts to this one and I loved everything about it. The characters were well drawn (some familiar, some new) but all Grecian and the storyline moved along at a nicely brisk pace.

The synopsis is what caught my attention. I love a witchy story so I was hoping this would be interesting. I think the one singular thing that kept my attention was the audio narration, Spectacular. The narrator gave a unique voice to every character. I though it was macabre enough for my liking without being horrific. The "zombie" aspect was quite unique. I think Moses was my favorite character. That being said, this has a large cast of characters and none of them really had much depth to them because the povs were switching so quick. I also didn't realize this was a sequel until I finished and read other reviews, that explains why I felt like I was missing out on something. Overall this was fine. An interesting story but not one I think I'll remember in the long run. A solid 3 stars.

When I started this book, I didn't realize it was a continuation of Red Rabbit, which I hadn't read. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to read it first, but I never felt lost while reading Rose of Jericho. From what I can tell, this book shares characters with Red Rabbit but can easily stand on its own.

Set in 1880s New England, the book kicks off with Death himself being murdered by a man who sought vengeance against Death after his wife died. The problem is, now that Death no longer exists, anyone who dies continues to walk the earth - wounds and all.

The core of the novel takes place in Ascension, Massachusetts, a small, insular village where we see the repercussions of the loss of Death. A mother dying of cancer suddenly recovers, and her son, who people witnessed being crushed by a milk cart, walks away unscathed. Others who have died (or should have) are also miraculously alive. While many would like to attribute it to the power of prayer, it is anything but holy - especially seeing as how the longer those who should have died remain, the more unhinged and dangerous they become.

On top of the walking dead, we also have Bethany Hall - a home riddled with ghosts, and it's in this home that Sadie, Rose and Rabbit have come to stay to help Rose's ailing cousin (who - thanks to Death's demise is no longer as sickly as she once was). But Sadie, Rose, and Rabbit are witches, and they feel a presence amongst the ghosts - something that waits in the attic that even the ghosts are afraid of.

I absolutely loved the premise of this one. Who would have thought that Death himself could die? And, of course, everyone would become "living dead" if Death wasn't around to see them off to wherever we go next. This idea is very inventive, allowing for a lot of exploration, and Grecian definitely has fun with it.

Another thing that makes this book work so well is the characters. Grecian doesn't just create protagonists who react to the strange events unfolding around them; he gives them depth, history, and personal stakes that make their journey all the more engaging. Rabbit, Rose, and Sadie Grace are fascinating figures, and I really want to go back and read the first book to learn more about them.

The novel's supporting characters - both living and dead - are just as intriguing. The townsfolk of Ascension have an unsettling, almost puritanical distrust of anything unnatural, creating a slow-burn tension that permeates the book. They want to believe everything happening is by the hand of God, which puts them in even more danger. And the spirits? They aren't just spooky set pieces; they have personalities, motives, and a presence that makes them feel as integral to the story as the living characters.

While I personally didn't feel that this book was especially scary, there is an ever-present sense of dread. The idea of people being hurt or killed but never succumbing to their wounds was fun to explore, but you know that eventually, something has to give, and things are going to get dark. Rather than lots of gore or jump-scares, Grecian builds an unsettling atmosphere filled with the sense that, at any moment, things could go very, very wrong.

I read both an ARC and listened to an ALC of this and I have to give major kudos to the narrator. John Pirhalla is fantastic. Not only does he provide convincing voices for each character, but he also sings the songs in the book rather than just speaking the lyrics. His ability to make even his singing voice reflect the character impressed me. This really upped my listening experience!

Overall, this is a fascinating, well-written novel that offers a fresh take on supernatural horror. With its compelling characters, unique premise, and immersive setting, it's an engaging read that balances creepiness with adventure. While it may not deliver traditional scares, its unsettling atmosphere and the mystery at its core make it an enjoyable novel for fans of gothic horror or just a good eerie mystery.

Holy s!*#. Wow, this book was wild! What happens when someone kills death and throws the life and death cycle into chaos? You are about to find out! The narration was fantastic. I loved every minute.

So apparently this is a sequel to the author's previous book, Red Rabbit, which I didn't know until I started writing this review. The good news is I still enjoyed this work on its own, which means it does work fine enough as a standalone.

It was hard not to be drawn in by the premise of this one. And the work does start off strongly, and I was instantly drawn to Moses and his story. I enjoyed following him and felt that his POV was by far the strongest.

My biggest dislike of this work is that it isn't long before there is an overwhelmingly large cast of characters that the book jumps between. I had a difficult time keeping several of them separate, and because of the great number of them, many of them felt relatively flat. I also wanted more from the magical elements of the work as well as the horror. While some dark and violent things did happen, I felt that calling it a work of horror is a stretch.

Overall this is a good blend of fantasy mixed with historical fiction that was a decent read. I do wish I'd read the other book first, as I wonder if it would have helped with the characters in this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

John Pirhalla’s narration of Rose of Jericho was as fantastic as Red Rabbit was, both by Alex Grecian. Starring Rabbit, Sadie Grace, Rose and Moses along with lots of side characters. After Moses kills Death in revenge for the deaths of his wife and child, the dead are not dying. Along with a literal haunted house filled to the brim with ghosts galore that Rose, Sadie and Rabbit move into. And sightings of the visual representation of an Angel with wings covered with eyes. Death’s dog accompanies Moses to deliver Death’s appointment book to the next recipient to become the Grim Reaper. Part road trip, part Hell on Earth where witches, ghouls, ghosts and angels meet for a party not to be missed. ALC was provided by Macmillan Audio via NetGalley. I received an advance listening copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Historical fiction horror set in the town of Acension Massachusetts in the early 1880s. The perfect mix of horror, thriller and comedy. What happens when the dead dont die? The ladies move into town, events get stranger and harder to explain. What is haunting thir home? A very enjoyable Book.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire for the ARC.

Rose of Jericho is such an aww inspiring story. I was instantly interested when I saw the cover, then I read the synopsis and I needed it. Thank you so much for the ALC. First of all, the audio was perfect for this book. It conveyed the most accurate depiction of what I would expect from the characters. This story was so well written and the flow was perfect. While a little of a slow burn, it worked so well. The characters were from a previous novel of the author, but I haven’t had a chance to read that yet. However, I don’t think that took away from my reading experience!

<u>Rose of Jericho</u>
Alex Grecian

ALC courtesy of MacMillan Audio and NetGalley.

Overcome with grief from the death of his young wife, Moses Burke sets off on his horse to pursue Death. He succeeds in tracking down and killing Death. Soon after, strange things happen. People are not dying. Additionally, on Death’s appointment book, he finds on the last entry the name of his friend, with whom he had travelled ten years ago. It then becomes apparent that this novel is a sequel to Grecian’s previous book, <i>Red Rabbit</i>. I myself did not find not having read the prequel to matter very much to my understanding of this novel, so do not be concerned.

Moses sets off on a cross country adventure on horseback, and on train, to find his friends, Sadie and Rabbit, the “Good Graces.” The latter had themselves set out on their own adventure to Ascension, Massachusetts, accompanying their friend, Rose, to care for her ailing cousin, Clarissa. They find themselves moving into haunted Bethany Hall, teeming not only with ghosts, but with a mysterious celestial being residing in the attic.

Rose of Jericho is a fast-paced, plot-driven work of supernatural fantasy. I would not really call it horror, and I did not find it particularly scary. Sure there are ghosts, witches, revenants and liver-eating ghoul, but the overall tone is lighthearted, sometimes outright hilarious. I think fans of T. Kingfisher would enjoy this book. The novel did have quite a few characters, and shifting POVs that can sometimes be difficult to keep track of, particularly on audio. There were multiple subplots, coming together in the end.

Otherwise known as the Resurrection Plant, the Rose of Jericho makes us think about death. How we humans try our best to defer or cheat death. However, in the end, it is an inevitable, if not a necessary, part of life.

<i>”What does the promise of heaven mean to someone who would not see it? What did the threat of hellfire mean to someone who has no fear of death?”</i>

Super interesting plot with a lot to say, I found that this book was just spread a little too thin; too many POVs as well as too many strings of plot. There was so much going on, nothing was given the chance for depth and to really make an impact. Overall though I found it entertaining enough and for fans of the first book, it seems to be another hit. Unfortunately Netgalley didn't mention this is a follow up novel, nor did goodreads. It may have impacted my enjoyment.

In the 19th century, New England, town of Ascension, Rabbit and Sadie have stumbled upon a town, where the dead don’t stay dead. Together with their cousin Rose, they must face an entity in the attic of their family home to uncover the truth about what’s going on in this strange little town. Not your typical horror story, this is quirky and a little offbeat. Still, I found it very enjoyable.