AMBROSIA

A riveting blend of horror and suspense anchors Bird’s mind-bending novel.

Travis Barnes, returning home to North Carolina after years away serving in the Navy, carries with him the eerie echoes of a dark melody, the weight of his mother’s recent passing, and an uncertain vision of what his future will look like. As he reconnects with a childhood friend and eases back into civilian life, an unexpected stroke of luck alters his life’s trajectory: Winning millions in the lottery opens doors for him to pursue his dream of becoming a writer, and he meets Tara, the woman who he feels is destined to be his loving wife, fulfilling his dream of having a family. Woven into Travis’ narrative is the enigmatic tale of Drexl Samson, a shadowy figure who commits gruesome murders for a mysterious organization known simply as the Bureau. Drexl’s story starts in the 1970s and slowly builds momentum to intersect with Travis and Tara’s present-day timeline. From there, the tale takes an unexpected turn that mixes fantasy and romance as a lingering sense of horror builds—a suspenseful feeling that something is not quite right in the world, and that silent, sinister forces are at play. Bird’s unsettling novel features evocative and poetic prose in passages like “There was no magic there, he knew, no more ghostly tingles up his flesh or skipping beats of his heart. That magic hadn’t faded—he knew that, as well—but had only moved on to another place, had taken hold and made its home within his heart.”The story progresses slowly to culminate in a violent, bloody, and fulfilling climax. It is not until late in the book that the full extent of what exactly is happening becomes clear as the author skillfully unravels the mysteries surrounding the Bureau, the origins of Travis’ extraordinary luck, and the haunting melody that accompanies him, although the breadcrumbs are all there. It’s very smart worldbuilding, with well-developed, relatable characters and a surprising twist.

A smart, discomfiting, ultimately satisfying horror tale.