Amazing story, lackluster writing and editing. Sadly, this just wasn't ready to be published. The outline and plot are great - a ghost story and murder mystery with Catholic missionaries, fair maidens, dashing Spaniards, Indian warriors and Russian monarchs. This book is running over with great potential characters. Unfortunately, none of the characters are well introduced let alone developed. This leaves the reader just moseying along through the story. It reads like a museum blurb almost - This person who we know little about is suspected of doing this thing to this other person who we know very little about.
I'm sure it would be great as an audiodrama or movie. The narrator for this book should have skipped the fake Russian accent.

The Ghost Of The Kenai by Aurora Hardy is a historical horror story in which I was gifted an audio copy narrated by Nick Mondelli from dreamscape select. this is the book that from the beginning is creepy. There is a missing priest a Russian soldier on a mission given to him from birth, a native loyal to his tribe who be friends the Russian soldier and the ghost that represents all the negative colonist can bring. this is a quick read that from the first chapter. I was captivated by the story. They have many unlikable characters, but in John and Runs Quickly, you will find two characters totally worth rooting for.! as soon as they arrive in the deny a settlement you can tell things aren’t what they’re supposed to be and as the story unfolds, the reason will absolutely be explained, and it will be left up to those who didn’t create it to fix the problem. I thought Nick mondelli gave a great performance historical horror is one of my absolute favorite genres in Aurora. Hardy did a great job with this story. #NetGalley, #DreamscapeMedia, #TheBlindReviewer, #AuroraHardy, #TheGhostOfTheKenai,

The narrator for this audiobook was really great. He expressed emotions and seriousness where it was needed. This story gave a lot of history to Dena’ina Native people to Alaska and some of their history. Russians come to the land and quickly learn that it’s hunted by a woman in a tattered dress and things mysteriously happen off the coast. It goes from a trusting, learning and bargaining relationship to betrayal and murder. The plot being one of their own is keeping them from fully inhabiting this land. This did have me doing a bit of research on my own and took me down a road of learning about the Indigenous Natives Alaskans that were highlighted in this book. This story really gave me Pocahontas vibes. When it came to how trusting the Natives were and the betrayal at the hands of the Russians. Thanks to Net Galley for this audiobook ARC. The narrator of this book was wonderful and he provided emotions and clarity he really matched the vibes of the book.

I'd give this book maybe a 2.5. I love historical fiction and mystery & thrillers, however this was just not for me. It had potential but it did not pull me in. I didn't connect with any of the characters and the story didn't keep me wanting more.

The narration was great.

I visited Alaska this past year and it was an unforgettable experience, so when I started to dive into this story I was excited to recognize the geographic locations/names used frequently throughout. If you are not familair with the layout of Alaska, I would recommend keeping a map on hand, it will help you truly understand the expanse of the land this story takes place in. I enjoyed the different perspectives between the natives and Russians, however I found that the main characters, Acts Quickly and Nicholas, lacked much depth other then their roles in the overall story. For being a shorter novel, I would have spent more time flushing out the main characters and less on vaguely refering to side characters that did not have much purpose to the story. Also, I was getting a strong sense that these two would end up in some type of relationship past friendship, there were alot of moments that I wondered, "Will they kiss?" The "mystery" is a bit over used but makes sense for the time period and setting, this probably happened all the time. I would have enjoyed more scenes of the "ghost" before we got the reveal. Deeply rooted in history & lore, but a fun mix of perspectives. Thank you for letting me review this audiobook.

It is 1796 and the men in the Russian fort are terrified of a ghostly woman who screams at them nightly. A missionary is missing and the Denaina people of had enough of trading with and being cheated by the Russians. Nicholas has been sent on a mission but can he fulfil his task?

Well written and well narrated novel. Well paced and very atmospheric. Many strong characters in this novel where Russia and Native lives clash. The Russians are cruel and selfish but are now scared and a long way from home. Who is the ghost they fear and can the cruelty be stopped?

It starts off with a detailed insight into the tribe the kenai.
The Russians are depleting the food, by killing and skinning the caribou, raping and killing the kenai.
A young man and a priest travel to the fort, On the efforts of trying to clean up the fort.
I didn't finish this book it wasn't for me.

This book was just okay for me. For such a short book it seemed to drag. The story jumped around and made it a little confusing. I personally didn't like the religious undertones. The narrator's voice was pleasant and easy to understand at an increased speed.

What can I say? This book was just ok for me. I had a hard time connecting to
The characters. Narration was fine.

audio-ARC from NetGalley.

2.75

I went into this thinking it was nonfiction. Then I understood it to be a mystery. Then it turned out to be Christian fiction.

This novel is told in much the same way as a campfire story or an Agatha Christie mystery. We jump from scene to scene and from character to character. The story itself is compelling - who is this ghostly figure screeching along the shore? what secrets are the men in this fort hiding? where is the missing priest? what was Nicholas sent on this voyage to seek?

In many ways, once I got past my initial mistake regarding genre, this novel delivered. I was interested. I was curious. But then the ending came & it was so strange & so abrupt as it morphed into a Christian fiction about forgiveness of someone who has done something unforgivable ... but only after killing a bunch of people who had nothing to do with the initial crime.

Not for me, but could have been.

Thank you netgalley and Dreamscape for a n arc copy for my honest opinion on "The Ghost of Kenai"

I am rating this book about a 2.5, but rounded up to 3. It was an enjoyable enough book. I do feel like it dragged in the beginning then went crazy at the end. The mystery wasn't too mysterious. I really enjoyed the stories within the book. I think my biggest issue might have been the very last chapter.

Not a bad book just not as complex as it could be. There were a couple of reveals but they lack umph. Didn’t really care or deeply connect with any of the characters.
Writing was fine and narration was good. Interesting from a historical perspective. Overall, the story was only mildly engaging due to the depth of the plot and character development. Would have liked an author’s note at the end with information about the historical context and research process.

This was a fascinating listen since I knew absolutely nothing on the history of this region of Alaska. I got a history lesson on the first Russian Settlement on the Kenai River that disrupted the Dena’ina native life after the Dena’ina peoples had been there for over 1,000 years. The book takes place in 1796, 5 years after the Russians first arrived and after they had built their fort and church.

This book mixes a history of the Cook Inlet in Alaska with Russian and native Alaskan folklore to make a really fascinating historical mystery/thriller.

Our main character, Nicholas, is an 18 year old orphan whose officer position was bought by an investor in Russia who needs Nicholas to keep an eye on his trade investments at the St Nicholas Readout at the Kenai. They are also to ensure that the Russians at the Readouts stop their brutal treatment of the native people. Nicholas is also asked by the priest to assist in combatting the heinous “unchristian” treatment of the Dena’ina people by the Russians at the settlements. Nicholas soon meets Acts Quickly who asks him to help his people and tells him that he knows why the “evil” Russian man at the settlement is going crazy and they there is a woman (a ghost) in white that screams.

Is the screaming woman really Rasulka? Who is the woman? What is she doing at the Kenai? What will happen to the settlement?

I hope readers and listeners of this book will be as intrigued as engaged as I was while listening. Also, I highly recommend looking up the images of this region. Gorgeous scenery.

Beautifully done story based on Alaskan history, wonderful narration on the audio, and a perfect length book to curl up and enjoy in one sitting.