Sisters of the Crimson Vine, by P. L. McMillan

I was offered a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review may contain spoilers.

I am a massive fan of folk horror. There’s something about the skeletal trees and the orange nights, the Halloween vibes and all the human sacrifice that makes my toes curl in a good way. The nights start creeping in and I start feeling the urge to read about spooky scarecrows. Sisters of the Crimson Vine scratched this itch in the best way.

This book is such a fun, creepy read, matching an overwhelming sense of dread and unease with a bright, cheerful community revolving around a convent. While this book falls into some of the more common tropes of folk horror, it was a completely original, vibrant take and it was never predictable. The tension was really well-balanced, never too drawn out or underutilised, and left me wanting to give up on all my responsibilities just to keep reading.

There’s so much I want to say about this book, but I don’t want to spoil anything, so all I’ll say is that Sisters of the Crimson Vine is beautifully simple, short and easy to read, and it will absolutely consume you.

Check out this book on Amazon and Goodreads.

About the book

John Ainsworth nearly died in that car crash.

Soon he’ll learn there are worse fates.

After a brutal accident, John awakens in the dilapidated Crimoria Convent under the care of thirteen
unconventional nuns. Grievous injuries trap him within the borders of the ruined sanctuary and its
strangely successful vineyard. When his body starts healing faster than nature allows, John’s
questions quickly pile up.

A pair of Church auditors arrive to look into the convent’s finances. It’s obvious the pair are
unwelcome guests, but John has bigger concerns. The order’s annual ritual draws near and John
begins to discover things that make him wonder if any of them are truly safe in the hands of the
Sisters of the Crimson Vine.

About the author

P.L. McMillan writes dark stories and loves cosmic and gothic horror in particular. Her works have
been published in Sanitarium, Hinnom Magazine, Fundead Publications, among others.

To her, every shadow is an entry way to a deeper look into the black heart of the world and every
night she rides with the mocking and friendly ghouls on the night-wind, bringing back dark stories to
share with those brave enough to read them.

“Someone suggested to me that McMillan might be one of the next great cosmic horror writers and
if [The Space Between] is a good indication of her talent and imagination, I’d say they could well be
correct.” – The Miskatonic Review

Check out her website at www.plmcmillan.com