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Pumpkin Spice Tales #1
The Dark Yule
A clever cat confronts unspeakable horrors in this chilling Christmas thriller.
Through the POV of Pumpkin Spice, a Maine Coon mix, you will enjoy this journey through the dream world, to the world of Things Which Cannot Be Seen and back.
Reality is coming undone.
The New England village of Kingsport is odd at any time of year, but as the winter solstice approaches, someone jolts the town in space-time. The resulting reality gap attracts hundreds of bat-winged night-gaunts, corpse-eating ghouls, and soul-sucking parasites—and the humans can see none of it.
But the cats can.
Pumpkin Spice, Maine Coon and part-time familiar, is on the hunt for answers. Who has blurred the lines between realms? For what purpose? And how can Spice thwart their wicked plans, before her naive young witch is consumed by things she can’t believe in?
Through the POV of Pumpkin Spice, a Maine Coon mix, you will enjoy this journey through the dream world, to the world of Things Which Cannot Be Seen and back.
Reality is coming undone.
The New England village of Kingsport is odd at any time of year, but as the winter solstice approaches, someone jolts the town in space-time. The resulting reality gap attracts hundreds of bat-winged night-gaunts, corpse-eating ghouls, and soul-sucking parasites—and the humans can see none of it.
But the cats can.
Pumpkin Spice, Maine Coon and part-time familiar, is on the hunt for answers. Who has blurred the lines between realms? For what purpose? And how can Spice thwart their wicked plans, before her naive young witch is consumed by things she can’t believe in?
226 pages, Paperback
Published April 18, 2019
About the author
R.M. Callahan
5 books9 followersR.M. Callahan is an author and scriptwriter who is frankly glad she can't See That Which Cannot Be Seen. She currently lives in the Land of Blue Dragon (Vietnam) with her husband Linus, two rascally children, a Jack Russell, and a brown cat that bears no resemblance to Pumpkin Spice whatsoever.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 30, 2022
This is a 4.5 🌟 read rounded ⬆️ to 5 🌟.
OMG ...... this was SO darn good!
OMG ...... this was SO darn good!
December 8, 2020
This was pretty fun! Thanks to Ozsaur for the rec!
January 25, 2021
Almost perfect book
Loved this story of Spice, a main coon cat, and her feline friends saving their home town from something dark and deadly. The animal personalities are perfect. They are believable as animals without any of the cuteness that usually haunts non human characters.
The story was a complex horror mystery which kept me guessing. Loved it.
The dream lands where the cats meet up and chat were so imaginative and well described I almost believed I could journey there too.
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Loved this story of Spice, a main coon cat, and her feline friends saving their home town from something dark and deadly. The animal personalities are perfect. They are believable as animals without any of the cuteness that usually haunts non human characters.
The story was a complex horror mystery which kept me guessing. Loved it.
The dream lands where the cats meet up and chat were so imaginative and well described I almost believed I could journey there too.
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
December 13, 2018
I was looking for something different and I found it. This wintery tale is about a bunch of bad-a** cats, specifically one named Pumpkin Spice trying to solve a mystery in her town of Kingsport. Time distortions, ghouls, night gaunts and all the sass only cats can bring to the stage fill the pages of this book. In turns my imagination is inspired and my funny bone is tickled! A great tale for Christmas or any time of the year!
November 26, 2018
Some surprises!
Definitely not your usual cozy mystery! Highly enjoyed the cat characters and the plot twists were completely unexpected. I am looking forward to the next installment!!
Definitely not your usual cozy mystery! Highly enjoyed the cat characters and the plot twists were completely unexpected. I am looking forward to the next installment!!
December 7, 2022
I picked this up on a whim, because it has Christmas and fantasy, and it was dirt cheap to boot.
So I didn't expect much when starting this, especially as often time books that have animals as main characters just feel way too shallow, and I'm not a fan of anthropomorphism.
So I was very happily surprised to not just have a decent read, but a story that just gripped me right away and kept me enthralled all the way through!
I loved how the cats had their very own character traits and still felt like actual felines, while having enough traits to make it easy to follow the story. It reminded me a bit of the Sandman's "Dream of a thousand cats", though these try to save their humans from their own stupidity.
The actual fantasy reveal at the end was a bit underwhelming, but the four legged cast and the tone and voice of the story were good enough to still make it an easy 4,5 star read for me.
So I didn't expect much when starting this, especially as often time books that have animals as main characters just feel way too shallow, and I'm not a fan of anthropomorphism.
So I was very happily surprised to not just have a decent read, but a story that just gripped me right away and kept me enthralled all the way through!
I loved how the cats had their very own character traits and still felt like actual felines, while having enough traits to make it easy to follow the story. It reminded me a bit of the Sandman's "Dream of a thousand cats", though these try to save their humans from their own stupidity.
The actual fantasy reveal at the end was a bit underwhelming, but the four legged cast and the tone and voice of the story were good enough to still make it an easy 4,5 star read for me.
December 18, 2018
A wonderful, fast-paced adventure featuring a little pride of house cats trying to protect their humans from the ghosts, ghouls, and night-ghants invading the small town of Kingsport. Through the POV of Pumpkin Spice, a Maine Coon mix, you will enjoy this journey through the dream world, to the world of Things That Which Cannot Be Seen and back. For fans of the Warriors series, the Dark Yule will enthrall readers young and old!
October 27, 2018
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to further stories of Pumpkin Spice. The Lovecraftian aspects of the world are creepy and well done, as were the characterizations and perspectives of the cat characters.
January 8, 2021
I got this book as a sort-of Christmas story to read in time with the season. It really has very little to do with Christmas, except that it happens at that time of the year. This book was entertaining and reminded me favourably of A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny, which is a Halloween horror story told from the perspective of a dog.
I'm more of a dog person than a cat person so I thought the grooming and other details distracted from the story, but then a cat person might feel just the opposite. I also thought the story took a bit to get going, but when it finally did, it didn't slow. I thought the confrontation in the catacombs was great and laughed out loud at the 'attack' Pumpkin Spice performed on the altar.
I thought the defeat of the cultists was a bit too easy, or too put it another way, I didn't think the cats had done enough to prevent what was going on. But suddenly, I was on the last page, so I guess they did what needed to be done. Having chapters of the next book added to the end can deceive you into thinking there's quite a bit more action to come when there really isn't any.
I'm more of a dog person than a cat person so I thought the grooming and other details distracted from the story, but then a cat person might feel just the opposite. I also thought the story took a bit to get going, but when it finally did, it didn't slow. I thought the confrontation in the catacombs was great and laughed out loud at the 'attack' Pumpkin Spice performed on the altar.
I thought the defeat of the cultists was a bit too easy, or too put it another way, I didn't think the cats had done enough to prevent what was going on. But suddenly, I was on the last page, so I guess they did what needed to be done. Having chapters of the next book added to the end can deceive you into thinking there's quite a bit more action to come when there really isn't any.
December 18, 2022
An exceptionally polished, imaginative, and fun take on cosmic horror with a Christmas twist.
Callahan clearly knows and loves cats and her feline protagonist, Pumpkin Spice, a female Maine Coon cat, is believably cat-like in both her interactions with her human family and her feline friends while gifted a level of articulacy most writers would envy. Despite being told in the first person, Spice is a such a great guide to the various realms she inhabits that it's easy to picture them clearly, with the differences between modern-day Kingsport, olden Kingsport, and the many fascinating locales of the feline "dreamlands" (a vast and multi-levelled place where cats congregate when they are sleeping in the "real" world) atmospherically evoked.
While all this sounds charming (and it is!), the story is never twee or even cozy-this really is dark fantasy containing some violence, intense emotion, and a few tense, well-paced action scenes, all leavened by humour and the delightful strangeness of Spice's feline society. An auspicious debut to a series I look forward to continuing in 2023.
Callahan clearly knows and loves cats and her feline protagonist, Pumpkin Spice, a female Maine Coon cat, is believably cat-like in both her interactions with her human family and her feline friends while gifted a level of articulacy most writers would envy. Despite being told in the first person, Spice is a such a great guide to the various realms she inhabits that it's easy to picture them clearly, with the differences between modern-day Kingsport, olden Kingsport, and the many fascinating locales of the feline "dreamlands" (a vast and multi-levelled place where cats congregate when they are sleeping in the "real" world) atmospherically evoked.
While all this sounds charming (and it is!), the story is never twee or even cozy-this really is dark fantasy containing some violence, intense emotion, and a few tense, well-paced action scenes, all leavened by humour and the delightful strangeness of Spice's feline society. An auspicious debut to a series I look forward to continuing in 2023.
December 13, 2021
This winter tale is in keeping with dark and ghostly Christmas story traditions. Unusually told from the perspective of a cat, who is the main character, Pumpkin Spice is the leader of a group of cat sleuths set out to save their town from something sinister.
The novel's originality is its highest merit. The conceptualization of the "dreamlands" in particularly was well-done and absorbing, and the book's best writing surrounded the early explorations of the dreamlands. I enjoyed the characters less, especially the humans. The main character is sassy, sometimes crass (which was less enjoyable for this reader). The human characters remained at the periphery, but their overt behaviors made them hard to feel empathy towards. All the characters could have been more fully developed. Also somewhat disappointing was the association of Yule rituals with something evil, rather than simply otherworldly, magical, or spiritual in nature.
The ending wraps up rather quickly, but I have the sense that it will continue with further explication in the next book in the series.
The novel's originality is its highest merit. The conceptualization of the "dreamlands" in particularly was well-done and absorbing, and the book's best writing surrounded the early explorations of the dreamlands. I enjoyed the characters less, especially the humans. The main character is sassy, sometimes crass (which was less enjoyable for this reader). The human characters remained at the periphery, but their overt behaviors made them hard to feel empathy towards. All the characters could have been more fully developed. Also somewhat disappointing was the association of Yule rituals with something evil, rather than simply otherworldly, magical, or spiritual in nature.
The ending wraps up rather quickly, but I have the sense that it will continue with further explication in the next book in the series.
November 30, 2020
Never thought I'd be charmed by a book with eldritch horrors, but here we are!
Spice is a cat, the familiar to a beginner witch who hasn't practiced in a while. One night, Spice sees a nightgaunt outside the window of the witch's baby. That's when she starts to investigate and discovers that the town of Kingsport is in danger by dark forces. With the help of her cat friends, she sets out to save the town.
Spice is a wonderful character, but the author created several friends who all have distinct personalities. The way they talk and act is very cat-like. I love the characters!
The world building is wonderfully Lovecraftian. There is little gore, but there are a couple of yuck moments. I mean that in a good way, monsters are supposed to be yucky. The universe hopping, magic, and the different creatures were all interesting.
It was a fun story. I already have the second book.
Spice is a cat, the familiar to a beginner witch who hasn't practiced in a while. One night, Spice sees a nightgaunt outside the window of the witch's baby. That's when she starts to investigate and discovers that the town of Kingsport is in danger by dark forces. With the help of her cat friends, she sets out to save the town.
Spice is a wonderful character, but the author created several friends who all have distinct personalities. The way they talk and act is very cat-like. I love the characters!
The world building is wonderfully Lovecraftian. There is little gore, but there are a couple of yuck moments. I mean that in a good way, monsters are supposed to be yucky. The universe hopping, magic, and the different creatures were all interesting.
It was a fun story. I already have the second book.
December 14, 2020
This is a cute little book (200 pages) with a cat as the main character. She and her gang of felines work together to save their town. The world-building is so unique, and the characters are relatively complex (no easy feat when when most characters are cats), that I really wanted to give it 5-stars. It just needs more - more storyline (I felt this should've lasted longer), more depth to the plot (several aspects seemed pointless & were just there for "fluff"), and more darkness (meaning: though it has a slight Lovecraftian theme, I believe it would work much better with a lot more!). Be that as it may, I'll most likely read the other books featuring the exploits of this cat named Pumpkin Spice.
November 21, 2019
The Dark Yule is a very good read for anyone interested in a Chthulian urban fantasy adventure in which the heros of the day are the feline creatures doing their very best to wake us up at two in the morning. The characters are well-developed and fun to read and the story is a great progression from slightly-worrying to downright-dangerous. I would highly recommend this book to fans of the genre (and those outside the genre). This book, and its follow-ons, have made my list of best books read for 2019. Now, on to book four!
December 2, 2020
For cat lovers and fantasy readers
I loved this book, having two mainecoons of my own, pumpkin spice was a very believable character for me. I think even my cats liked it since they slept beside me every time I read, (they must know something I don’t) I cannot wait to read the next book though I am still cringing about a missing “tail”.
I loved this book, having two mainecoons of my own, pumpkin spice was a very believable character for me. I think even my cats liked it since they slept beside me every time I read, (they must know something I don’t) I cannot wait to read the next book though I am still cringing about a missing “tail”.
December 30, 2023
I loved this book. Cats saving the town of Kingsport from evil wizards. It’s was a fun little read and there were some fur raising exploits. Who knew cats were so brave. I can’t wait to read more n this series..
September 13, 2025
The Dark Yule
Oh my gosh! The most unexpected best read of this year for me. What absolute fun. I’ve had this on my TBR for awhile and finally got around to reading it. I am so excited to read more of Pumpkin Spices harrowing adventures.
Oh my gosh! The most unexpected best read of this year for me. What absolute fun. I’ve had this on my TBR for awhile and finally got around to reading it. I am so excited to read more of Pumpkin Spices harrowing adventures.
December 19, 2020
Great story
I enjoyed the feline characters and their interactions with their humans, canines, the canine’s human and various magical creatures. Heroic cat.
I enjoyed the feline characters and their interactions with their humans, canines, the canine’s human and various magical creatures. Heroic cat.
January 4, 2021
Meh. Characters not very well-developed
January 7, 2021
Very enjoyable novel that I will definitely be following up with book 2.
December 30, 2025
Cat-centric xenofiction
A charming mix of feline super-sleuthing and Lovecraftian mythology, with a faint dash of holiday cheer. Pumpkin Spice is a heroine worth rooting for.
A charming mix of feline super-sleuthing and Lovecraftian mythology, with a faint dash of holiday cheer. Pumpkin Spice is a heroine worth rooting for.
December 18, 2020
5 glowing stars!
That was a really good story! I didn't expect anything from it, but now this book is going to join my favorites of all time.
Ah, I wish more people would stumble upon it, and discover the adventures of Pumpkin Spice and her feline friends. Definitely recommended!
That was a really good story! I didn't expect anything from it, but now this book is going to join my favorites of all time.
Ah, I wish more people would stumble upon it, and discover the adventures of Pumpkin Spice and her feline friends. Definitely recommended!
May 11, 2021
Could not put it down
Hubby snarled at me on many a night for reading this in bed in the dark on my phone via the kindle app, even though my phone screen was at its darkest setting and on silent lol he said the miniscule light from my phone was keeping him awake . His eyelids must be made of tissue paper lol so I would wait til he fell asleep then happily read half the night away. I too have a Maine coon girl who is the love of my life... don't worry hubby knows lol. I enjoyed this book so much I went and bought books 2 and 3 in the series. There may be a divorce in my near future lol and that said, without looking at a crystal ball NEVER MARRY SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT ENJOY A GOOD READ.
Hubby snarled at me on many a night for reading this in bed in the dark on my phone via the kindle app, even though my phone screen was at its darkest setting and on silent lol he said the miniscule light from my phone was keeping him awake . His eyelids must be made of tissue paper lol so I would wait til he fell asleep then happily read half the night away. I too have a Maine coon girl who is the love of my life... don't worry hubby knows lol. I enjoyed this book so much I went and bought books 2 and 3 in the series. There may be a divorce in my near future lol and that said, without looking at a crystal ball NEVER MARRY SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT ENJOY A GOOD READ.
July 15, 2022
I recently had a discussion with my best friends where we lamented that none of us could find any grown-up books suited specifically for those who loved Warriors Cats as children (which is to say, us). Then I started reading the book my mom got me last Christmas.
The Dark Yule is a seamless fusion of cosmic horror, urban fantasy, and animal POV unlike anything I've ever read. It distinctly reminded me of Warriors while not being very much like it at all. I loved the way the cats in this book were such magical, attuned beings, yet at every turn they still behaved like cats. I could hardly put The Dark Yule down, and I look forward to reading the next two.
The Dark Yule is a seamless fusion of cosmic horror, urban fantasy, and animal POV unlike anything I've ever read. It distinctly reminded me of Warriors while not being very much like it at all. I loved the way the cats in this book were such magical, attuned beings, yet at every turn they still behaved like cats. I could hardly put The Dark Yule down, and I look forward to reading the next two.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews