This is historical horror at its best. Very atmospheric and creepy. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this opportunity to read rage and review this arc which will be available September 12,2023!

Two plagues are raging in the countryside. One is Smallpox, a torturous disease that ravaged the body and turning homes into tombs but the other is more insidious, a scourge in supernatural origin that ravaged the mind and the soul.

Here the deepest horrors are made manifest. Here the dead walk the shadowed wood. Into this absolutely horrifyingly descriptive medieval horror tale comes occultist and investigator Dorin Toth and his greyhound Vinegar Tom.

This book is damn near the ultimate perfection in the horror genre. It terrified me, made my body tense with dread and anticipation. My mind for days was stuck inside this book even after finishing it. I highly recommend it and I’m freaking buying it so I can experience it again.

I absolutely had to read this book because I own a greyhound, and greyhounds are rarely found in (modern) literature. I was going to say that finding a greyhound in a book is kind of like finding a unicorn, except that unicorns are found in literature far, far more often than greyhounds. So … a greyhound. Yay!

And, of course, I loved Vinegar Tom (the hound). He and Basina (a Pyrenees) are the two best characters in the book. I'm not sure that the author has ever actually owned a greyhound, however, because Tom did not once let out an ear-piercing Greyhound Scream of Death (I am not making this up – it's an actual thing) because a leaf fell out of a tree and touched his butt. Or because he stepped on a pebble. Or because a frog croaked nearby. Or because a "terrifying" mini poodle wandered ever so slightly into his personal space (okay, maybe it's only mine that does this one). And in addition to being drama llamas, greyhounds are also lazy AF and I'm pretty sure that Vinegar Tom did more running over the course of two days than mine has done in two years. I guess it's possible that Renaissance greyhounds were of a heartier stock.

Tom only obeying commands when he feels like it is pretty realistic, though.

But, um, yeah. I suppose I should actually review the book rather than just talk about greyhounds? Oh, fine.

Promise of Plague Wolves is a dark and atmospheric tale that starts off as a slow burn. Nothing much happens at first, but the creepiness builds and builds as Toth investigates the smallpox-ridden village to which he's been sent. Something of occult origin is obviously happening in Drunstall, but what?

This book is not for the faint of heart. It's gory and violent and full of pestilence and murder and death. The otherwordly villains are frightening and ghoulish, and the human villains only slightly less so.

Overall, I found the plot to be original and the book well-written. I did feel as if there were points where the story dragged a little, but it was still an enjoyable read … in a macabre sort of way. Dorin Toth is a mysterious and fascinating character, and his relationship with Vinegar Tom is endearing. I hope there will be further books featuring Toth, Tom, and Basina, because they're really a fantastic trio.

Many thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.

Well, whew! This was my very first thought after reading this absolutely astounding novel. I was breathless and a part of me was still in the world Coy Hall created. Such is the impact of this book.

Set in the late 1600s, the plague has wreeked havoc through the countryside. But there's something much worse, much more evil and malevolent going on as well.

Dorin Toth is a man on a mission. He is tasked by his church leaders to seek out this manifestation of the supernatural. And what a fantastic charismatic character he is. Along with his faithful sidekick, a greyhound dog named Vinegar Tom, he searches for answers to the terrors haunting this plague filled area.

And what he finds is horrifying to say the least. This novel is a perfect blend of historical fiction, supernatural horror, and folk horror elements that form a trifecta of terror that you won't want to put down.

The prose in here draws you into the world. You'll feel and experience everything with these characters and you won't want to stop reading. Even after the book ends your mind will be chewing on what you've read like a dog on a squeaky toy.

I'm hoping that this is not the last time we hear from this world or Dorin Toth and Vinegar Tom. I'm definitely ready for more! I can't recommend this book enough. It's frightening, disturbing at times, and adequately bloody. Most importantly, it's a damn great read.