ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t like reading synapses first so I went into this book completely blind and I was pleasantly shocked! The four narrators of the audiobook did a fantastic job of fully encompassing each character and I could tell who was speaking instantly before the book mentioned it! The story itself is full of horror, thriller, and down right edge of your seat suspense at times, which I found perfect to listen to on an eight hour road trip! It kept me awake and enthralled and even after the drive was over, I just had to know what was going to happen, especially with Jonah and Nell! I would definitely recommend to anyone that enjoys a real trip of a book with a great storyline!

I really wanted to love this one….the prologue did hook me in. A mysterious door under the sand in the desert that causes chaos when opened? Definitely sign me up for that story, but then it moves to some pretty boring background that went on forever. This road trip that Jonah and his sister Nell took was ridiculously slow, especially considering they did have some adventures but I found the whole thing overly drawn out. The violence is graphic which didn’t bother me but I wasn’t exactly expecting it in the various fights that occurred. Jonah and his wife are separating and he’s headed home to Albuquerque and his sister Nell comes to keep him company. I found Nell’s character to be particularly annoying but all of the characters were pretty awful people. Feeling the need to senselessly mess with her brothers life they get into a bar fight at a biker bar. After fleeing Jonah falls asleep and wakes in the desert and when he finds Nell nothing in their lives will be the same again. I liked the narrators and I thought they did the best they could with what they were reading.

I’m not a huge horror, mystery thriller kind of girl. I just feel like the horror has to deliver, it has to stop me in my tracks and maybe scare me a little. And I feel like this one did!
It was definitely a mystery thriller and the way it went down was scary as heck. I liked the plot and how crazy it was getting. I was really entertained. I highly recommend it.
I chose to listen to this book on audio and it was 11 hours and 4 minutes long. Narrated by Hillary Huber, Neil Hellegers, Amara Jasper, Pat Grimes, Qarie Marshall and they did a great job.
Thanks Dreamscape Media via NetGalley.

I’m leaving my review on Instagram, FB, Goodreads, B&N and Amazon.

File this one under "underwhelming" and "dull."

The synopsis describes this as a white-knuckle horror-thriller and I struggle to classify this as either. Aside from some body horror here and there, it didn't really give me any chills. And it was too repetitive and predictable to be suspenseful. I honestly thought the story would be more centered on the caves and what was dug up, especially with that fabulous prologue building the tension right off the bat. So, needless to say I'm not happy it was a blink and miss it kind of thing instead.

Road trip books are hard. If not done well, they can be rather tedious, so I always expect a lot to happen to keep things entertaining along the drive. Instead I was left disappointed by how repetitive this was in both action and downtime. I needed more creepy events and cave stuff, less fist fights. There were way too many brawl scenes in this that always seemed to follow the same path. A bar fight, a gun fight on the road, a knife fight in a warehouse, a desperate fight in a house, and always with Nell and Jonah coming out on top with a new wound to deal with in a different motel.

The characters were alright. There are four POVs in total. Jonah was fine, even if he was a bit understandably down in the dumps. Nell kind of sucks, and I did not like her in the beginning. It's one thing to be unlikeable and another entirely to treat Jonah the way she did, just because she has this misguided compass to what she thinks is best for him. I liked Terry at first, but once he went off the rails, his motivations ceased to be plausible. And Anna ... well, I didn't really get what her deal was. Some kind of cult attitude that was missing too much backstory.

I don't think this being an audiobook made this bad to read. I liked the narrators for the most part, but the story itself was uninteresting for me. I wasn't sure how to rate this so I'm landing smack dab in the middle at two point five.

Jonah and Nell Talbot used to be best friends. Twelve years ago, Jonah left town, got married, and never looked back. Now that his marriage is ending, he and Nell embark on a road trip back to their hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. When a bar fight goes from bad to worse and Nell encounters something strange in the desert, things go quickly south. Nell may or may not be possesed by a demon, but she definitely has a real-life “Sin Eater” tracking her. As her physical health deteoriates and she keeps losing time, Jonah is determined to keep her safe and find a way to save her.

This one was a fun, quick ride. There’s a tad more body horror than I like in my creepy tales, but overall it was okay, and I only deeply cringed a time or two. Mostly, I couldn’t stop listening, because I had to know. Is there really a way to save Nell. What about the back story of this “Sin Eater?” I wanted to know more. I followed Jonah and Nell across the miles, rooting for them, despite their mishaps and sometimes immature actions.

It’s out now in print and audio wherever you get your audiobooks. If you enjoy your horror supernatural, a tad gross, and full of suspense, definitely check this one out.

Matthew Lyons’s "A Black and Endless Sky" is a gripping horror novel that begins strong, releases some of the tension, and then builds to a hard crescendo. After Jonah’s divorce, he and his sister, Nell, decide to road trip from San Francisco to Albuquerque. To start things off, they get in a bar fight with some bikers. Then it’s all downhill from there when Nell becomes possessed by a demon in the Nevada desert. With the wounded bikers and an exorcist dogging their every move, siblings have to figure out how to free Nell and get home.

I find it difficult to enjoy a book when I don’t genuinely like any of the characters. I didn’t find any of them to be particularly sympathetic. From the beginning, Nell is problematic with how she baits her brother into fights. Jonah is somewhat likable at the beginning, but then his character flaws reveal that even he is not going to be the hero of this story. When Ann, the exorcist, comes on the scene, I was expecting to like her and thought she might be the character that drew me in, but her arc went in another direction entirely. However, the plot and the cinematic description of events kept me listening to the audiobook even though I didn’t want to grab a beer with any of the characters. The conflict had the cosmic horror elements I like to see in horror, and the fact that all the characters were sort of bad in their own way lent to the tension. Additionally, the descriptions of the gruesome fights and the visions Nell experiences were effective. They created vivid scenes in my head, some of which I had to take a break from.

What I particularly loved about the audiobook version was that each character — Jonah, Nell, Ann, and Terry (one of the bikers) — each had their own narrator when in their perspective. I love this concept in an audiobook because it really helps keep the characters’ voices true and consistent when listening. I would recommend this audiobook to horror fans and would read other titles from this author to see what else he is doing. All in all, "A Black and Endless Sky" by Matthew Lyons was a satisfying listen.

I received this audiobook from Netgalley.

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was intense. I really liked it. I loved the road trip aspect of it. To me, this book felt like a mixture of the movie Idle Hands and the books Razorblade Tears, the Exorcist and On the Road. There was so much going on that there was never a dull moment. I was hooked from the first sentence. There was not a dull moment in this book.

This book is about Jonah and Nell, two estranged siblings who reunite for a road trip home after Jonah's marriage ends. Along the way, something happens to Nell and she becomes something else. And, people are hunting them. That's all I will divulge about the plot.

This book gets an enthusiastic 4.25 stars. Like I said, it's action from page one. There are some really creepy scenes throughout and a lot of violence, so if that's not your thing, then steer clear of this book. But, if you have a strong stomach and enjoy good horror, this is definitely for you. This is one of the best audiobooks I've listened to. With multiple narrators, (5 in total, I think), it ranks up there with the likes of Daisy Jones and the Six, which is my favorite audiobook of all time. I enjoy multiple narrators and this one knocked it out of the park. Highly recommended.

A wonderful story of fates colliding with each other. The multiple perspectives and chapter arrangements counting down to a destination were great. The two protagonists of the story were very hard to sympathize with until the third act of the novel. Extremely well written, extremely visceral. All in all a great story with excellent pacing.

Despite a slower start, this ended up being a gripping supernatural survival story. The book would have received a higher rating if I hadn't struggled so much with the beginning of the story. The setup was very slow paced and I struggled to get immersed until halfway through the novel. However, once I got hooked, I was hooked! It is very rare for a book to grab me so late, but this one did. I thought the buildup to the finale was very gripping. My favourite part was actually the "villian" who was well developed and even relatable. The main characters were unlikeable and not necessarily in a good way, but the villain really stole the show for me.

Overall I would recommend this book to horror readers who enjoy this subgenre. I encourage readers to stick it out because the ending delivered a satisfying climax that made the book worth reading. 

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This audiobook is well read and actually quite terrifying. It reads like a darker version of Supernatural and leaves the option a sequel open. Readers from a religious background may find the subject triggering.

A Black and Endless Sky by Matthew Lyons follows siblings, Jonah and Nell Talbot on a cross-country road trip to their hometown of Albuquerque. Jonah and Nell have a strained relationship from when Jonah fled 12 years ago and he is hoping to mend their relationship on this road trip.
An accident befalls Nell at an industrial park during the trip and she begins to have supernatural experiences. Jonah realizes something is wrong with his sister and he is trying to figure out what is wrong while also trying to get her help.
The siblings are being followed by a stranger who knows exactly what is happening to Nell and what will happen if Nell does not receive help.
Jonah and Nell must fight to survive or meet a bloody end.
I listened to this book in audio form and it is narrated by: Hillary Huber, Neil Hellegers, Amara Jasper, Pat Grimes, and Qarie Marshall. All the narrators did a fantastic job at creating the suspense and atmosphere of the book. There were some audio quality issues where a little bit of static would break up the voices, but I could still understand what was being said it was just annoying.
A Black and Endless Sky is full of suspense, creepy atmosphere, and supernatural aspects. It is graphic, violent, and did not end the way I expected. The story flowed smoothly from one narrator to the next. It was easy to follow along and picture what was happening as it was described to me because of the wonderful detail in the book and the way the narrators brought the book to life.
I loved listening to this book and I loved the story as well. My only issue was the audio quality could have been better. For me this book was 4.5 out 5.

I really enjoyed this fast-paced and thrilling novel. The book focuses on siblings, Nell and Jonah, as they make their way on a road trip back to their hometown after Jonah goes through a divorce. The siblings' relationship has been strained since Jonah fled town many years ago. I really liked the exploration of sibling relationships. Not long into their road trip, they decide to stop at a bar, and that is where things start to go south for Nell and Jonah. There is a fight at the bar and Nell has an accident which results in her not acting at all like herself. They continue on a wild ride of a road trip while they are trying to figure out what is going on with Nell and trying to outrun their pursuers. I loved the pacing of this book and felt like it flew by. We get multiple POVs as well which helped to make the book an even quicker read. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the different narrators. There were gory scenes and supernatural elements as well. I quite enjoyed this wild journey and look forward to reading more from Matthew Lyons in the future!

This is the road trip from hell, literally! Siblings Nell and Jonah are headed back to their hometown of Albuquerque from California. The two were very close until Jonah left suddenly 12 years ago. Since then their relationship has been very rocky. This roadtrip gives them the opportunity to work out their differences and heal their relationship. Well, that was the plan until a strange accident leaves Jonah searching for his sister at an abandoned industrial site. After finding her he discovers that she has no memories of the event and she is ……..different. Nell begins to experience visions and missed blocks of time and Jonah fears that Nell is not the only one on this road trip.

Violently descriptive this action packed story was an intense ride from start to finish. The characters are very flawed and self destructive. This is a brutal story that leaves the reader wondering who to root for. Lots of blood and gore, lots of crazy fighting scenes. Solid horror story 4 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the audiobook in exchange for an honest review

#NetGalley #ABlackandEndlessSky #MatthewLyons

This story started off on a good foot, but then it declined from there. None of the characters are good people, and although that’s okay at times, it wasn’t in this particular story.

What happens is that a brother and sister go on a road trip together. They get into lots of spats along the way, and the sister also picks up a demon that follows her everywhere. Then, the two make the unwise decision to get a drink at a biker bar. While there, they get into a fight and take off. Unfortunately, the people who they fought with know where they’re going and decide to follow them to get revenge.

SPOILERS
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Why did it take the police so long to reach their dad’s house? That was some slow moving officers, which turned out to be convenient for the plot. Next, how in the hell did the brother and sister duo both survive? Especially Nell, the sister, who was deader than dead. The book really could have done without the epilogue.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

Almost immediately, I was experiencing dread and anxiety over the characters, their actions, and their relationship. He does a great job of building that feeling in the background as you read, a dark spot similar to the one Nell is battling.

But, honestly, it was just so ... odd. And it felt longer than it needed to be. Just die already! Someone! Anyone! Everyone!

3.0
This book just wasn't for me. When I heard there was going to be siblings and a road trip, I was excited because it made me think of Jeepers Creepers. The books beginning gave me some hope when it started in a desert deep in tunnels where there was construction going on, it gave me the beginning of the exorcist vibes, however, after that scene it fell completely flat.
Jonah and Nell, they used to be inseparable but adulthood got in the way and 12 years later they are forced to deal with their issues while being stuck in a car for a whole trip. Their back and forth bantering got a little annoying sometimes and I wanted to chuck Nell out the door, however I kept trucking along wishing their trip would just come to a stop already.
I wanted more horror and less thriller , so for that I will say this book was just not for me.
I loved the narrators, however and it because of them it did make it seem more like a movie and less of a book , so there's that.
Thank you Net Galley for the free copy for a honest review

Enjoyment: 3.5
Total rating: 3.79

Jonah and Nell used to be closed, but their sibling bond strained over the years. Now, almost strangers, they go on a road trip to their hometown, hoping to mend their relationship along the way.

I listened to A Black and Endless Sky as an audiobook produced by Dreamscape Media with a full cast ensemble. I enjoyed their narrative, pacing and chemistry. Having a full cast was the perfect production choice as A Black and Endless Sky reads a lot like a movie.

This book is an action-packed, thrilling Horror that is the perfect blend of genres. Even though the story wasn't for me, I appreciate Lyons creativity and narrative. I have a hard time imagining things when I read, and those who can visualize this book will deliver a lot of punches. If possible, I hope it is turned into a movie directed by John Carpenter.

Disclaimer: In exchange for an honest review, I am thankful to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing a copy of A Black and Endless Sky.

Matthew Lyons you Sir killed it with A Black and Endless Sky.
The audio version was so good. I was blown away by this story and the great writing!
This is one of those books that grabs you by the seat of your pants and holds you hostage until the very last page is read.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Dreamscape Media,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

I hardly know what I just read. Yikes.

A Black and Endless Sky is an intense, bloody, gory, fight-filled, phantasmagoria-laced story following an estranged brother and sister as they battle their way home.

This story actually kicks off with some unnamed workers digging in a cave system in the desert of the Western U.S., where they uncover something monumental. We, as Horror Lovers, know that nothing good ever began with that circumstance. Y'all know, something terrible is about to be unleashed.

Then we get to meet estranged siblings, Jonah and Nell. The pair, once thick as thieves, have lost contact over the past twelve years, much to Nell's chagrin. Nell feels abandoned by her brother, who, as she sees it, left their hometown of Albuquerque as quick as he could to run off and get married; leaving her in the dust.

Jonah, who may in fact be running from things, is a different person than he used to be. At least he is trying to be and he's sick of Nell trying to put him into the box of his past self. Now as Jonah's marriage comes to an end, he feels sort of forced to return to Albuquerque. He also agrees to make the road trip home with his sister.

As the journey begins the siblings are butting heads. Jonah is exhausted, he can't believe his sister is making this, the hardest day of his life more difficult. At that early stage, Jonah has absolutely no idea how difficult this journey will actually become. The siblings end up having an interaction with the cave system mentioned-above and as I am sure all of you may have predicted, it doesn't end well.

Even though they both make it out alive and continue on their journey, Nell is not the same. It's like she brought something back with her out of the dark depths of that cave.

This story is absolutely wild and so violent. Jonah and Nell end up facing forces from this world and beyond, all seemingly hellbent on their destruction. The siblings, who used to fight together so well, are forced to return to those earlier roles, kicking butts the entire way.

There's a lot going on in this story and I was never bored; not for one second. I am a huge fan of road trip stories and this one definitely delivered that aspect very well.

With this story, Lyons delivered a very Adult-version of What We Buried, mixed with elements of Desperation and the last little bit of Revival. It might not be Tak, but it sure as hell could be a distant cousin...((if you know, you know)).

I don't read a ton of Horror Thrillers, but comparing this to the few I have read, I think A Black and Endless Sky really holds its own. While I can't honestly say that I understand everything that was going on here, I liked being given the opportunity to try and figure it out. It was super fast-paced and I really enjoyed the audiobook.

Thank you to the publisher, Dreamscape Media, for providing me with a copy to read and review.

This is the second book I have enjoyed from Matthew Lyons. My taste meshes well with his style of storytelling and I look forward to going on another adventure of his making in the future!

3.5 ⭐
Horror is not a genre I read too often, not because I don't like it, I just seem to flock to other ones. I am glad I gave this one a whirl because I thought it was well written and it kept me engaged.

The story follows estranged siblings, Jonah and Nell, as they travel across country back to their hometown. There are quite a few bumps they encounter along the way, to put it mildly. It is very violent at times with excessive amounts of fighting .
I liked that each new chapter gave us an update on how far away they are from their destination. I am doing an around the world challenge this year and I wanted to put this for New Mexico, but I am not sure if I can, since it did take them a long time to get there

I tend to enjoy my audiobooks a slight bit more when the narration is good and these 4 narrators did not disappoint.

This was my first time with this author and I would read their work again.

*Thanks to Netgally, Dreamscape Media LLC and Matthew Lyons for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*