If “you can’t judge a book by it’s cover” was a book – here it is!
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review
AMBROSIA – Hamelin Bird (Released January 16th, 2024)
Book Description:
When Travis Barnes returns home following the unexpected death of his mother, leaving his career with the Seventh Naval Fleet, he hopes to begin a new chapter in life. Unbeknownst to him, a series of impossible coincidences soon draws the attention of the Bureau, a fringe government agency formed from the rubble of Projects Monarch and Stargate.But when Lola Agnew, the Bureau’s genetically-altered ringleader—along with her erudite headhunter, Drexl Samson—confront him with a clandestine force with powers beyond this world, Travis must face a forgotten secret from his past. His partner Tara Reilly, meanwhile, has secrets of her own, and when the couple are pushed to their limits, they must join together to overcome the darkness…
In the tradition of the classic speculative fiction of Richard Matheson, Ira Levin, and Ray Bradbury, Hamelin Bird’s AMBROSIA is a genre-defying deep dive into the mysterious and uncanny.
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars
I’m super bad about reading the entire synopsis for books most of the time. That was no different here, even when the author reached out to me directly. Just hearing a mutual friend had said I’d love the book was enough for me, and then I saw that cover. Sold! While I do love a good horror novel, I love the ones that meld together different genres and this one gives us a nice mix of some of my favorites. You’ll find a little bit of speculative fiction, crime fiction vibes, intense action, and of course, horror.
We begin with a slow burn pace as we get to know our main character, Travis. He leaves behind his career in the Navy and is returning home after the unexpected death of his mother. We get to know the cast of characters as Bird sets up the story for us, then at the halfway point, oh boy, do things go nuts. You know things are bound to go sideways when the US Government and a secret agency are involved, and this took us on quite the ride.
I loved that there were the gruesome and violent parts sprinkled throughout. I mean, that dinner scene? Don’t think I’ll be forgetting about that one any time soon. While you might think you can guess where the story will go and how it will play out, you truly have no clue what’s happening. This book is nowhere near predictable and that was a breath of fresh air. Also, I have to mention, if you’re thinking you can judge this book by its cover. Believe me, you can’t. If you can handle some gore and want the definition of a genre-bending book, then look no further! I can’t wait to start Drencrom and order his other books.
Jessicamap Reviews 