AUDIO REVIEW: Mandrake Manor by JP Rindfleisch IX (Henbane Hollow #1)

- September 23, 2024

MANDRAKE MANOR

Henbane Hollow - Book One

by JP Rindfleisch IX

Release Date: October 13, 2023

Audio Release Date: June 21, 2024

Review

I love a cozy queer story and Mandrake Manor gives us cozy, quaint, paranormal vibes with a side of mystery and trouble.

It’s about three best friends who move into Mandrake Manor when they are all in need of a change and Mathias inherits it in mysterious circumstances, with some strange requirements.

And things just keep getting stranger once they move in. Not to mention one very demanding HOA.

As mysteries are revealed and the magic of the community is revealed, love also starts to bloom.

It was a fun story and the audiobook was well done by narrator Kirt Graves (which was to be expected - he’s a talent). I found it a little difficult to follow all the characters, as it’s not focused on just one relationship as is traditional, but that’s more an issue with my ADHD! I really liked the idea of the story being ensemble.

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Synopsis

Inherited magic.

A secret neighborhood.

And... a formidable Homeowner's Association?

Recent graduate Mathias Mandrake’s life takes a turn when an unexpected inheritance of a distant relative’s manor falls right into his lap. However, this home across the country comes with a condition: Mat cannot live there alone.

Good thing his best friend Frankie is ready to leave behind his lackluster trail of midnight trysts for a more suburban life. Eager to hone in his dilf-hunting skills, his bags are packed and ready to go before Mat can finish signing the paperwork.

Completing this trio is August, for whom the idea of living with newfound friends away from the hustle and bustle of city life is, honestly, a dream come true. Not only that, but it’s a perfect setting to finally finish that novel they’ve been working on.

Mandrake Manor is a whimsical tale full of mystery and mayhem as well as an abundance of queer joy through found family, budding romance, lots of sass, and light spice.

Watercolor cover art by local Rockford queer artist, Lucian Kuranz.

About JP Rindfleisch

JP Rindfleisch is a writer of things dark, strange, and queer; a co-host of the Write Away Podcast and Serial Fiction Show; and a Three Story Method editor and coach.

When they aren't spouting on about the importance of community or how theme can be an excellent tool for writers, they find themself wandering into nature with their Siberian husky, partner of 11 years, and a campervan aptly called Hank the Tank.

Their works include several short stories, a serial called NRDS with Jeff Elkins, an upcoming Dark Urban Fantasy Series with AB Cohen, and an upcoming Three Story Method’s Masterwork Analysis of the Road with J Thorn.

Where to find them: