The Rose of Jericho
By Alex Grecian

Summary
The Rose of Jericho is clever. A play on the resurrection flower, this story follows Moses and the days following the murder of the grim reaper. Without the reaper to come for the souls of the dead, people simply stop dying. The chaos unfolds as Moses tries to understand what happened and what he needs to do to fix it.

Review
The book has plenty of gore and murder, so it technically falls into the horror genre, but it lacked the spooky foreboding nature of “Rabbit”. It was well written and had a dark enough setting, but I wanted more from the character development. There were so many different characters and yet I related to almost none of them. I wanted to be more invested in their outcomes. Overall, the book was entertaining and kept me wanting to read more. I do hope that Grecian continues to write books related to the good graces, I would read them.

Recommend
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys horror books that are light on suspense. If you enjoy a macabre vibe and some paranormal encounters, you will want to check this one out.

Rose of Jericho by Alex Grecian is a spellbinding blend of mystery, history, and lyrical storytelling that captivates from the very first page. Grecian’s vivid descriptions and masterful pacing bring to life a richly atmospheric world, where every detail feels intentional and immersive. The characters are complex and compelling, their journeys intertwining in ways that are both surprising and deeply satisfying. With its seamless blend of intrigue and emotion, the story builds to a breathtaking conclusion that lingers long after the final page. A beautifully crafted, unforgettable novel that is sure to delight fans of historical thrillers and horror fiction alike.

This was unfortunately not the book for me. I just didn’t click with it. I spent most of the book trying to figure out what was going on. I think that this book did have some interesting points with the dead coming back to life, but the execution didn’t work for me.

📖 Book Review 📖 Two decades post-war, the country is still healing and in New England, home to the Salem Witch trials, something strange is still going on. A delightfully dark and beautiful tale that explores the depths of our intelligence and emotions when pushed to the brink of death and beyond. Rose of Jericho is a richly atmospheric read that conjures the right amount of horror balanced with the right amount of gripping and poignant statements on life, death, and everything in between.

Rose of Jericho is an atmospheric and chilling journey into the eerie village of Ascension, where the natural order of life and death has been upended. Alex Grecian masterfully blends gothic horror with an intriguing mystery, creating a story that grips you tightly and doesn’t let go until the very last page.

The story introduces us to Rabbit, Sadie Grace, and Rose, three captivating heroines whose friendship and determination form the heart of the narrative. Their arrival at Bethany Hall, a house teeming with restless ghosts and secrets, sets the stage for a haunting adventure. The unsettling phenomena in Ascension—a mother miraculously healed, a boy surviving a fatal accident, and a hanged man still speaking—create a sense of dread and curiosity that keeps you turning pages.

Grecian’s prose is beautifully crafted, evoking a vivid sense of place and an undercurrent of unease that permeates every corner of the story. The unwelcoming villagers and the sinister secrets lurking in the attic add layers of suspense, while the themes of mortality, friendship, and resilience lend emotional depth to the tale.

The pacing is pitch-perfect, with each revelation escalating the stakes as the women uncover the truth about Ascension’s strange happenings. The ghosts of Bethany Hall are more than just set dressing—they are integral to the story’s mystery, contributing to the rich tapestry of horrors and the overarching sense of something much larger—and more menacing—looming on the horizon.

Rose of Jericho is a must-read for fans of gothic horror and supernatural suspense. With its compelling characters, spine-tingling twists, and vividly drawn world, this novel cements Alex Grecian as a master of the genre. Highly recommended for those who love their mysteries dark, their horror atmospheric, and their stories unforgettable.

The author continues his characters' story in this new stand-alone piece. It is well-written and exciting and a great continuation for those who were fans of Red Rabbit. There were times when the story felt either rushed or in need of more time to be fleshed out but it didn't impact my enjoyment.

Overall, the book was well written, although I struggled to figure out what was going on, and I soon realized it was because this was a sequel, so I didn't have a good grasp of the characters and their relationship to each other. Anyway, that was my fault so I am going to rate the book higher than I would have on a blind read.

This was a great sequel to Red Rabbit. I loved seeing some of the characters again, and the writing and misadventures were as good as ever. This is such a different take on the horror genre to me, it’s subtly scary and can still be gruesome at times but without being pointless. This one was definitely sadder than the last book, and I teared up. Love Moses, Ravbit, Sadie and Rose.

This is one creepy, well-written book! I realized after a few chapters that the characters were introduced already in a previous book titled “Red Rabbit,” and I do think I would have been better off approaching this book after reading the previous. Still, I really enjoyed this story of a place where the dead are not dying, a horrifying concept, and immediately purchased “Red Rabbit.” The author’s writing flows beautifully, and is descriptive enough to really draw you in without being unnecessarily wordy. The characters are well-developed, even for someone like me going blindly into a second book, and quite interesting.

Anyone looking for a gothic horror story to curl up with - here it is. But I do recommend reading “Red Rabbit” first.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to be introduced to this author and these books!

Alex Grecian’s Red Rabbit was one of my favourite novels of 2023 which also featured in my Horror DNA Top Ten as one of the very few books receiving the mighty 5/5 stars. Rose of Jericho is a sequel (of sorts) to Red Rabbit as most of the same characters return, even if virtually no page time is spent on recapping previous events. You could read this new book as a standalone novel and it would remain enjoyable, however, a much richer and deeper experience will come from savouring Red Rabbit first. If you have never heard of Red Rabbit, a strange meandering supernatural western of sorts, I highly recommend immersing yourself immediately. Prepare to be beguiled and blown away by a most peculiar odyssey.

I thoroughly enjoyed Rose of Jericho but it fell short of the incredibly high benchmark set by its predecessor. Structurally it was similar to Red Rabbit, concerning the journey of a group of rag-tag individuals to find a witch, with the reader tracking the narratives of the group, the witch and an exceptionally nasty entity which stalks them. This sequel sees returning character Moses Burke once again seeking out the powerful witch Sadie Grace, as he believes she can help him with a dangerous supernatural problem. As with its predecessor, this is a travel novel across a dangerous 1881 version of America, where most are strangely accepting of the supernatural. It was wonderful to be reacquainted with these terrific characters, but more might have done with the key central storyline everything is built around.

This sequel taking its time, probably too much, as Moses Burke once again adds to his travelling party in his bid to get to the Massachusetts town of Ascension where he believes Sadie Grace, her friend Rose and her adopted daughter (Red) Rabbit have recently moved to. In the earlier novel we realise the little girl Rabbit has supernatural powers, and in all likelihood will become a witch, but in Rose of Jericho she is given little to do and I was surprised that Alex Grecian would sideline one of his most fascinating and enigmatic characters.

Rose of Jericho revolves around the fact that those who die are not staying dead, instead are still talking carrying out their day-to-day business as if nothing had changed. Most realise they are dead, but do not believe they have anywhere else to go. Moses believes he knows why this is happening and wants Sadie Grace to help solve the problem. By briefly introducing ‘Death’ as a character, the Grim Reaper himself, I could not help thinking of Terry Pratchett’s comedy fantasy Discworld series where Death is a recurring character in a long series, at one point he takes on an apprentice and eventually tries to retire in Reaperman.

Rose of Jericho imagines what might happen if there were no Death to lead those who have passed away onto what might be beyond the veil. The story flits between what is going on in Ascension and the journey of Moses, but in reality could have done with something more to add some spice to proceedings as repetitive quickly set it when more recently deceased refused to stay dead. Things were not helped by the fact that some of the new characters added into the Ascension narrative were rather dull and one dimensional.

If this review of Rose of Jericho sounds unduly negative, that is not my intention, but it is simply impossible not to compare it to Red Rabbit. It has lots of great features and it is fascinating to read a novel where many of the most interesting and quirky characters are dead or ghosts, which are mainly visible to Rabbit. I also enjoyed the peculiar and calm manner in which most characters accept their deaths. The predicament faced by Rose lies at the crux of the novel, the haunted house of Bethany Hall, and the strange village of Ascension all add extra layers to the story.

Alex Grecian’s blend of supernatural horror with a dash of historical fiction and his version of a haunted nineteenth century New England is the real star of Rose of Jericho. Although the inhabitants of Ascension claim to be God fearing folks and are suspicious of the arrival of Sadie Grace, they have their own secrets. The slow disintegration of the town after the dead refuse to stay in their graves was another engaging aspect of the story. Along Moses Burke’s journey he also meets a memorable array of support characters, from hanged men to train drivers and dead little girls, all of which add colour to proceedings.

Readers of Red Rabbit will be delighted that Alex Grecian has returned to his weird version off the American west and it was terrific to spend more time with these characters. Will they return for a third outing? I hope so.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: March 11, 2025
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

—The Dead Are Not Dying…

I devoured Red Rabbit and here I am with another 5 star for our author!!! OBSESSED HONESTLY. I’m going to keep this review rather vague because I want to leave everything to surprise but this is a 5 star for me. I enjoyed this SO MUCH and I cannot wait to see what else Alex comes out with next. If you love a really good hisfic/supernatural/horror read that gives you that racing heart and sweaty palms while reading, then this book is absolutely for you. This will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time bracing yourself for the twists you run into. Put this on your TBR or its release come March.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Super Natural Horror, Small Village Setting, Historical Fiction, Ghosts, Mystery, Secrets, Dark Eerie Vibe

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as Tor Publishing Group, Tor Nightfire

I had enjoyed Red Rabbit a lot and was excited to read more from Alex Grecian. This book had that writing style that I enjoyed from Red Rabbit. It uses the very scary concept that the dead weren’t dying perfectly and was hooked with what was happening. It worked well in this time-period and I could picture this happening. I’m glad I got to read this and can’t wait for more from Alex Grecian.

I was so happy to see some familiar characters from Red Rabbit. I would love to see the books continue. I enjoyed this book, but I loved Red Rabbit storyline a wee bit more. This one got a little slow towards the middle. I expected so much more chaos to happen. It was still a very good story.

Set in the eerie village of Ascension, “Rose of Jericho” blends supernatural horror with a dash of historical fiction, pulling readers into a haunted 19th-century New England. The book, from the bestselling author of “Red Rabbit”, introduces us to Rabbit, Sadie Grace, and their friend Rose, who are immediately thrust into the town’s unsettling mysteries. The dead aren’t staying dead, and the seemingly idyllic village harbours chilling secrets, all centered around the ominous Bethany Hall.

There is plenty of slow-burn tension as the women navigate Ascension’s hostile villagers while uncovering a darker force lurking in the shadows. The atmosphere is both claustrophobic and enthralling, and the pacing keeps you on edge. Fans of ghost stories, and historical horror will enjoy this one. A chilling, well-crafted read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the opportunity to read and review “Rose of Jericho” prior to publication.