Bookish greetings, bookworms!

I hope you’re having a great week so far. There aren’t any developments on my end, so let’s cut to the good stuff, another book review!

This time I read the novelette The Hay Bale by Priscilla Bettis.

Priscilla Bettis is another one of my favorite up and coming authors, so when I heard about this release I knew I had to read it. I mean, look at that beautiful worn cover effect!

This is the third and final new release on the horizon (for this week – I know, I’m incorrigible!)  I’m reading before delving into my long since neglected TBR.

Alright, let’s not linger any longer. On to the book review!

Blurb

Contemporary Southern Gothic meets weird horror in this new novelette from Priscilla Bettis.

Professor Claire Davenport yearns to be a mother. After suffering four miscarriages, the university microbiologist tries and fails to qualify as an adoptive mother. Then Claire’s husband leaves.

Alone and emotionally wounded, Claire takes a summer sabbatical from her microbiology classes and escapes to rural Virginia to heal. There, she meets local farmers with strange agricultural practices.

Claire moves into the historic manor house she rented for the summer, and an abandoned child greets her. Is the child real, an answer to her prayers? Or is he a figment of her tormented emotions? Perhaps the tight-knit locals are playing a trick on the science lady from the city.

Whatever the boy’s origin, Claire is determined to find the truth, but the truth may be bloody.

GoodReads

Amazon

***Brief disclosure***

I am an Amazon affiliate and earn a tiny commission for purchases made through the Amazon links in this post at no cost to you. It’s a great way to help me keep things running on my blog if you’re already intrigued enough to make a purchase. 

The Review

Wow, what a chilling atmospheric horror story!

The Hay Bale centers on a woman named Claire Davenport. She’s just suffered yet another miscarriage, and if that wasn’t enough, her husband left her. In an effort to heal and get her bearings back, Claire decides to stay at a rural location in Virginia, but gets much more than she bargained for.

This was a great story through and through. I loved how all five senses were incorporated from the very beginning. I could see each scene in vivid detail and felt like I was there.

Claire was a great character. She’s clearly been through a lot, and her perspective felt real and authentic.

The reverend really freaked me out, and I have to give some kudos to Claire for how she handled some of the interactions with him.

The plot was unique and riveting. It had a great pace to it and a mystery that really sent some chills down my spine. I’ll never look at a hay bale the same way, that’s for sure!

If you’re looking for a fresh perspective on horror, definitely give this story and author a try. You won’t regret it!

That’s A Wrap!

Well that’s it for this book review. I hope you enjoyed it!

Have you read this book? Are there other similar books you’ve read that you simply have to gush about? Feel free to leave a comment. I’d love to start a conversation!

Have a great day!

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