The Nightmarchers by J.Lincoln Fenn
Gallery Books (October 2024)
Reviewed by Chandra Claypool (Instagram) (TikTok)
The Nightmarchers is a “bone-chilling novel where a mysterious island holds the terrifying answers to a woman’s past and future.” We start in the past, circa 1939, via journal entries from Irene Greer. We learn that her fall from a waterfall is to try and join her husband and daughter who she believes have “joined the nightmarchers — ghosts of ancient warriors that rise from their burial sites on moonless nights.”
Fast forward to present day where Julia Greer gets a call from her rich great-aunt who offers her an insane amount of money to travel to an island to gather something for her. Julia needs the money so she can try and get custody back from her ex-husband. This money could be the answer to all her problems, or at least a means to give her a fighting chance. She is to gather a very special flower that holds very special properties and bring them back to her great-aunt. While she’s on this special island, she is to also tasked to get in touch with the island’s cult-like Church of Eternal Light. They may know more about Irene’s waterfall death than anyone knows. What she thinks could be a fairly simple task turns out to be a lot more complicated and harder than she could have ever imagined.
One of the biggest finds is the strangely large cemetery that everyone seems to not want to discuss. Perhaps Noah, a traveler that came over on the same boat as Julia, could assist. Noah knows of this special flower and thinks Julia isn’t the only one looking for it. But there are other strange things afoot on the island and Julia begins to question her own mindset and the pills her great-aunt gave her to take. Where are all the geckos and insects coming from? Why do they seem to have human intelligence? What are the Church’s secrets?
It took me a while to gather my thoughts and write this review. I’m glad that I decided to stick with this as I wasn’t sure it was going to be my kind of read at the very beginning. Once Julia made it to the island, I was hooked. I was also very intrigued with all the weird happenings on the island. The bugs, etc. would be an absolute nightmare for someone like me. Makes my skin crawl just writing this! Julia also learns the true reason why the island is off limits to outsiders.
This book definitely did not go in the direction that I thought it would. The atmosphere is creepy and I love that it’s not a traditional story. However, I did wish it was a bit more straightforward and less layered. I don’t mind a complicated storyline with a little social commentary but I did feel that the conclusion was a bit too much after a storyline that left my head a bit boggled. Interesting, yes. Easily digestible, not so much. Nonetheless, a great world on this island of mystery where nothing is at it seems.
If you like a book that incorporates science, cult atmosphere, family secrets and superstitions, absolutely add this to your list of books to read. This slow burn of a horror novel will surely keep you guessing.
