Thanks to NetGalley and BDA Publishing for the ARC.

I'm not really into Westerns, but Western horror? Making a niche genre even more niche? Hell yeah, now you have my attention. Here, we're all 'westward ho!' because the South's got zombies. It's very stylized, but between the way the accents are written and the magical dream sequences, it's hard to tell what is actually happening. I also didn't know this when reading, but this is the first in a series, so it does end rather suddenly.

This book was fine but nothing ground-breaking. I enjoyed it well enough, but I probably won’t go out of my way to recommend it.

Honestly I don't know where to start with this short story. The beginning was the most interesting part, it was fast paced and I was really engaged for the first couple of chapters, but after that I had no idea where the story was going. Lots of vague descriptions about visions that didn't feel necessary.

Even in the big grand reveal at the end it felt like a lot of unnecessary descriptions, so much so that I felt lost at the end and I had to reread it 3 times and I'm still left confused. This felt very much like a first draft and needed some editing. She used the word "vice" way too many times, that it became repetitive and annoying. The story felt very disconnected from the writing, I understand the point of wanting beautiful lush language, but with a zombie apocalypse it felt so disjointed and inauthentic.

Interesting subgenre though, I've never read something like this but I would definitely pick up more.

This was short but I actually really enjoyed this authors writing style. I will definitely be interested in reading more of her work. Can’t really go wrong with romance and zombies!

This has been beautifully written. This is deeply unsettling, grim, and mysterious read. Author has created such an interesting characters. Author has painted vivid picture of horror, pain, and hope. The only thing is that the book will leave you longing for me. Writing is lyrical.

Thanks to the Publisher

⭐️: 2
DNF. I tried to get into it, but it didn’t hold my interest Maybe I’ll give it another chance at a later time.

This arc was really good, I really enjoyed it. I would rate it 4.5 stars and I'd recommend reading it as well.

Zombies and romance are a great combination - when done well. Else the plot will suffer and if the characters follow tropes, it becomes harder to appreciate the novella.

This is the start of a large story with greater plots and expansion on characters, for now I will be satisfied to read this as an introduction.

<i>Thank you to Netgalley and BDA Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Revenants is the start to a novella series in a world that's suddenly been ravaged by zombies. Not much description is given about the world-building or nature of the zombies since the point of view is from one main character who is in the dark about what's going on around her as she has stayed secluded with her father. The focus of the story turns to a soldier that helps her and that she feels an inexplicable pull towards. This was quite a mysterious novel as it left much unexplored, but she is trying to piece together parts of her past that are brought up.
The writing and language used is a bit inconsistent as the characters dialogue is spoken with heavy accents and slang, but this is not really reflected in the characters internal monologue/thoughts and the prose switches and is at some points quite poetic. This is not necessarily a good or bad thing, just that it was a bit inconsistent.
I felt that the pacing of the plot was a bit inconsistent as well because I thought they were in danger of attacks and needed to flee sooner but instead spent the time in the damaged house. I was a bit confused by certain descriptions of the setting when the house was attacked, and by the flashbacks/visions that were mentioned because things go unsaid and I'm not sure if I'm interpreting things correctly.
Other than these criticisms, the plot is very interesting especially the mystery of the voices and the reveal at the end that leaves us intrigued about what will happen next and her understanding that things aren't as she thought they were. I'm curious if the origin of the zombie 'disease' or the military politics will be expanded on in the next installation, but most intrigued by the soldier's character and the main characters unreliable memories.
Thank you for the ARC!

Dead things are coming. A soldier appears outside of a cabin just before all hell breaks loose. This book wasn't really for me and I had a hard time engaging in it.

Revenants by Mel C. Bell offers an intriguing premise, blending supernatural elements with a moody, atmospheric tone. The story delves into themes of loss, revenge, and redemption, with a unique take on the undead that sets it apart from typical narratives. The world-building is creative, and the author’s voice shows promise.

However, the pacing felt uneven, and some characters lacked the depth needed to fully connect with their struggles. While there are moments of brilliance, the story occasionally gets bogged down in exposition, which slows the tension. That said, fans of moody paranormal tales might find it worth a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. While it wasn’t entirely my cup of tea, I appreciate the opportunity to explore Bell’s vision.

Excellent book, loved it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

This was short, but I really loved the style, voice, and characters. Would love to read an extended or more indepth exploration of this book. Thanks!

Many thanks to NetGalley and BDA Publishing for providing me with an eARC of Revenants in exchange for my honest review!

This zombie horror western novella gives off an atmosphere that's as grim as it is gritty, and that's what pulls me in right away as we dive into this tale. I'm seeing some of the reviews criticize the dialect, which is interesting, since it's an aspect that vibes with me. I find that it adds more flavor to the characters and infuses their world with a lived-in quality. At the same time, though, I do think the worldbuilding could have been fleshed out more deeply to give me a greater sense of where we are. I understand that we don't have much time to accomplish that in a novella, so it has to be done as economically as possible, but still, it's something that stands out to me and has an impact on stopping the story from being as strong as it could be. That being said, I'm still compelled by what we've got here, and I'm intrigued as to how this will apparently be adapted into a graphic novel. I'd appreciate this desolate and ruthless landscape having a visual facet to it.

Overall, I'm officially rating Revenants 3.75 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding up to 4 stars. I'm looking forward to more from Mel C. Bell here.

Based on the premise that this is going to be a graphic novel, yes yes and more yes. I can see the potential and I am super excited to see the final result.

I guess I didn't realize going into this book that it was a short story being adapted into a graphic novel. I was expecting more, and as a result, it felt somewhat disjointed/rushed. The writing was clever and well developed, I just wanted it to be more. I will withhold my final verdict until I am able to read it in the graphic format.

I was so into this story, I would gladly read a full length novel of this story. The writing has such great potential. It's full of great descriptions and vivid visuals. Their commitment to the dialogue, the voice of the characters, really engrossed me. I look forward to what this author releases next.

Rating: 2.9 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 3/5
-Story: 2/5
-Writing: 4/5
Genre: Horror, Western
-Horror: 1.5/5
-Western: 4/5
Type: Ebook
Worth?: Eh

Hated|Disliked|Meh|It Was Okay|Liked|Really Liked|Loved

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

A zombie western was wild but sadly not wild enough or something like that. I wasn't really scared and the western part was okay. Did I enjoy the characters? A bit, but nothing to ride home to.

Revenants by Mel C. Bell is a gripping blend of supernatural intrigue and emotional depth. The story follows a protagonist navigating a world where the dead return, forcing her to confront her past and the unresolved traumas that haunt her. Bell’s evocative prose and well-crafted characters draw readers into a compelling narrative filled with suspense and unexpected twists. Themes of loss, redemption, and the search for identity resonate throughout, making this a captivating read for fans of paranormal fiction.

Thank you to BDA Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Cowboys and zombies, oh my! I enjoyed the written accents and writing. I didn't know the tale was incomplete when I requested this, no wonder it felt unfinished! I look forward to the next installment.