In the rolling hills of Somerset, England, an ancient evil ripens alongside the grapes of Standing Stone Cellars…
Rebecca never expected her architecture career to lead to the secluded rural village of Winbridge Hollow. But after a violent clash with eco-activists, she flees the chaos of London, desperate for a new start.
She seeks refuge at Standing Stone Cellars, a vineyard renowned for its award-winning wines and mysterious history, nestled in the shadow of ancient oaks and standing stones that have watched over the land for millennia.
But this vineyard is no sanctuary.
From the primal fires of Beltane to the chilling shadow of Samhain, Rebecca finds herself ensnared in an ancient cycle of sacrifice and rebirth. The disappearance of her fellow workers amidst evidence of blood rites forces her to confront a horrifying truth: Standing Stone’s exceptional vintage is nourished by more than just sunlight and soil.
As the veil between worlds grows thin, Rebecca must make an impossible choice: embrace the dark legacy of the vineyard and secure her place among its guardians, or risk becoming the next offering to the insatiable Horned God that demands his due.
Blood Vintage is an atmospheric descent into folk horror, where the line between sacred and profane blurs with each sip of wine.
Lose yourself in a world where pagan rituals and modern ambitions collide, and discover the terrible price of belonging in a place where the very earth demands blood.
Genre: Folk Horror, Occult & Supernatural, Psychological Thriller, Suspense
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"This book kept me engaged right to the end. I don't usually read this genre, but once I had started to read Blood Vintage, I couldn't give up."
Janet
5 star Goodreads review
★★★★★
"A chilling tale that lingers long after the final page—heady, unsettling, and unforgettable."
Bookfan
5 star Goodreads review
★★★★★
"... Secrets, death and mayhem — I ended up reading this page-turner over a weekend. I had never heard of folk horror before but it may now be my new fav genre! Highly recommended."
First, the cover drew me in. Then I saw the trailer. How could I not continue?
Apart from a pleasurable read, I loved learning about the wine-making techniques.
Thanks Ms. Penn
M
Michael G BALDING
Tasty horror show
Another satisfying horror story, from JF Penn’s pen, with twists that can bring either a smile, or a scowl, to your face!
L
Lee715
Folk horror at it’s best
Blood Vintage is very well written as a folk horror. While the story begins with a young architect, Rebecca, who is looking to make a name for herself in her field, it soon turns into a need to hide out from her new found tormentors who are not happy with her project’s environmental destruction. Feeling that she needs to leave London for a while, she decides to try to find her sister who is missing. She goes to a quaint village where her sister was last seen and takes a job at a top award-winning winery.
Shortly after her arrival something seems to be off and eventually builds up to a sinister level. If you like super suspenseful stories which keep you oh the edge of your chair, this is perfect for you and I can highly recommend it.
I read an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
P
Pamela Scott
An unsettling delight
I'm a fan of folk horror so couldn't wait to read this. This is an understated horror novel. By that I mean, it's not gory and in your face. The horror is subtle, creepy and unsettling. The kind of horror I like. Flesh crawling unease. I loved this and would recommend it.
K
Kay Smillie
Atmospheric and Creepy
As usual with JF Penn books, the atmosphere in this piece of work is marvellous. It's creepy, and will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
Once you start, you'll struggle to put this down. To hell with the housework! Well-written, full characterisations and a great storyline. Enjoy!
