American Petrichor - by Nathaniel Shrake (Paperback)

About the Book

When a mysterious rider arrives in a frontier town promising blessings, the citizens of Bastion, Wyoming become fodder for ambition, ancient evil, and their own blind hunger for meaning.

Book Synopsis

When a mysterious rider arrives in the frontier town of Bastion, Wyoming bearing a church bell and the promise of divine blessings to come, the townspeople see providence where they should see warning. The stranger is quick to insist that God has chosen Bastion to be his chosen land, a message happily received by the community's desire for meaning against the swallowing plains that surround them.

But does something more insidious than prophecy lurk behind the visitor's words? The question lingers in the minds of the town's bartender, sheriff, and young deputy as storms both literal and allegorical fall upon them. Can they overcome a rising tide of illusion, misdirection, and mass-hysteria before the flames of conviction burn Bastion to ash?

Told in evocative yet focused prose, American Petrichor pulls inspiration from Germany's 1534 Munster Rebellion to remind us just how easily man's institutions-and the people that build them-can mistake malevolence for providence. It will appeal to readers of The Fisherman, Blood Meridian, and The Devil All the Time.

Review Quotes

"American Petrichor is an awesome read that is able to tell a cohesive and compelling story while blending genres (including western, horror, and paranormal elements). One of the book's greatest strengths is its prose. This is the second book I've read by Shrake, and his writing is consistently vivid and beautiful, allowing the reader to really feel the book come to life.I was really engaged in the story because it showcases the dangers of blind faith when presented with a compelling story or figure to follow and the consequences of unchecked power. At every point of the book I found myself wondering what was going to happen. Also, as someone who lives in WY, I was really loving all of the Wyoming lore thrown in. I would absolutely recommend this book!"

"Shrake's style of genre-blending writing, influenced by a classic literary prose, feels entirely his own by creating an atmosphere that's eerie, intentional, and strangely beautiful (fire tornado, anyone?). The ending caught me off guard; unexpected, a little devastating, and the kind that sends you flipping back through the final pages."

""Unpredictable, atmospheric, and beautifully written..."

"Keeps you thinking throughout, even after the story's over. A MUST read!"

"Full of creepy characters, this horror story not only thrills with suspense and chilly events, it also shines a light on how we can contribute to our own self-made terrors. The twist at the end seriously surprised me!