ARC - Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Book Review: The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery by Clarence A. Haynes

The cover was the first thing that caught my eye so stunning. Then, the story’s multicultural focus, especially its Afro-Latinx elements, completely sealed the deal for me.

As someone who’s deeply connected to spirituality and identifies with OSHUN 🌻, it was powerful to experience the story unfold. The spiritual themes felt authentic and moving.

The writing truly shines in the way it describes events so clear and intense that I found myself flinching at times. Gwen’s journey is gripping. She’s confronted by forces and memories she thought she’d left behind, and the tension of her being pulled back into a terrifying past is so well executed.

Fonsi stood out as a particularly sweet and likable character. His unwavering support for his cousin gave the story warmth and heart.

Brittany Bradford and André Santana did a phenomenal job narrating. Their performances were clear, engaging, and full of range. I especially loved how they shifted tone depending on the character or mood whether regular, spooked, or powerful, it always felt on point.

And that plot twist? Did not see it coming.

thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ARC!

Wow… I had this book all wrong! I was prepared for some spooky horror read that would make me sleep with the lights on and my head under the covers. Instead, I found myself chuckling throughout this steamy, quite engaging, and well-written eldritch. Religious folklore and a potential rip in the seam that separates the spirit and physical worlds were at the forefront of this story and it was quite a tale.

I found myself rewinding and intensely concentrating on the first few chapters. I wasn’t sure where it was all going and thought I was missing something. But then, all of a sudden, it all came together and made sense! Gwendolyn’s past was about to haunt her and the past demanded vengeance in the most feral way!

The characters in this book were well-developed, and I was humorously entertained by much of their dialogue and many of their interactions (who would’ve thought!). These characters had strong personas that kept me wanting more and more. I appreciated the authenticity of this story. While I haven’t read anything quite like it, it was ripe with romance, paranormal activity, strong relationships and witchcraft.

Overall, it was an exhilarating read that I’d certainly recommend. The audiobook and narration were awesome. I truly enjoyed it. Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to review this audiobook! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the audiobook ARC of the ghost of Gwendolyn Montgomery.

Gwendolyn Montgomery is New York’s most powerful publicist, living a seemingly perfect life while secretly hiding her mystical ability to access a purgatory-esque realm called El Intermedio. When a bizarre incident at one of her high profile events coincides with the appearance of psychic Fonsi Harewood—who warns that the barrier between the living and the dead is breaking—Gwendolyn is forced to confront the haunting past she thought she’d left behind. As ghostly forces threaten to overtake New York, she must embrace her powers to save the city and herself in this sexy, fast-paced, Afro-Latinx inspired supernatural adventure.

I really enjoyed this audiobook, it was like it was written for someone like me who is interested in spiritual practices & has a background in cultural anthropology. It started off a bit slow but once it got going it was kind of non stop action and I finished it in less than 24 hours! I will say that it was a little darker in nature than I was expecting from the summary. There were some parts that were seriously unpleasant, it wasn’t just a fun, action-adventure, there was some trauma & grief that was pretty upsetting. I have no issue with that, it just didn’t really come across in the description of the book which to me gave the impression of a lighter style of book.

Both main characters, Gwendolyn & Fonsi were likeable, complex and relatable which I very much enjoy in my books, it helps me to get immersed in the story. I felt like they were really well written in that they felt ‘normal’ in the sense of they could be someone you meet in real life and yet they also had these fascinating gifts. This felt like a new and really interesting take on spiritual/mystical storytelling, I’m not even sure how I would categorise it in existing genres and that was something I very much enjoyed.

The narrators were fantastic, it was dual narration which can sometimes be less enjoyable but I thought the way it was done in this book worked really well and didn’t take me out of being immersed in the story.

My one piece of constructive criticism is that there were opportunities to expand on really interesting facts or information about the Orichás (divine spirits), the origins of the practice and I especially would have loved more background on Oshun/Osun who was the most importantly Orichás in the book. I decided to do my own research so I could learn more, but feel like it would have been really enjoyable to learn about them in the book. For instance Oshun is described mainly as the Orichá of beauty & love but when I did my own research I discovered that she is also Orichá for orphans which is really relevant to the book but as far as I remember this was never mentioned.

As a girl who lights incense, builds shrines, & honors to dead, I was entranced by this & I love seeing how every culture does it differently yet share similarities 🤍
Such a cultural rich Urban Paranormal Fantasy- Full of Orisha mysteries. You really get the beauty & the ugly in this story, acceptance & denial. The whole aspect of coming into who you are & where your path lies…

The representation was beautiful. The characters so relatable- I really resonated w/ sweet, sweet Fonsi. I hope he gets his happiness & I hope to see what’s next for him!! The way he was just tryna give himself to the world whilst these negative, toxic energies kept putting him down. I was ready to fight for him lmfao.

Light the Palo Santo up, it’s getting wicked- That ending?! I clocked their spooky self, never liked themmm one bit!! I can’t wait to see where this story goes- Beautifully narrated by Brittany Bradford & André Santana 🤍 It’s like I was in NYC w/ them.