Review copy was received from Library. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Harvest Season by Brynne Weaver Narrator: Samantha Brentmoor, Robert Hatchet
Series: Seasons of Carnage Trilogy #2
Published by Penguin Audio on June 9, 2026
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Length: 11 hours, 24 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
It’s time to reap what you sow.
Cape Carnage is blooming with secrets, and they’re ready to harvest. But every time Nolan Rhodes digs one up, another grows in its place. Harper isn’t who he thought she was. Arthur might be more sinister than he first thought. And Sheriff Yates? The man is everywhere he turns. When true crime fanatics descend on the town looking for answers about the death of their leader, Nolan finds himself at the center of a search and rescue operation for missing people he knows are already dead. Cape Carnage teeters on the brink of chaos. And the harder Nolan tries to keep it together, the closer Harper comes to unraveling.
Harper Starling has risked everything to bury her trauma in Cape Carnage. But now that Nolan has unearthed her past, her whole life seems ready to break apart. And who can she trust? The enigmatic man she’s falling in love with? He came to kill her. The serial killer mentor she’s vowed to protect? He’s become an unpredictable menace. The woman in the mirror? She might be the most dangerous of all.
Brynne Weaver’s second installment in the The Seasons of Carnage Trilogy, Harvest Season, is another atmospheric and humorous dark romance that blends gruesome tension and emotional intimacy. I am actually not sure how this combination works, but she seems to have a gift for this genre and I enjoyed being back in Cape Carnage to see what the author had in store for Harper and Nolan.
The story picks up where Tourist Season ends, and the threats against Harper and Nolan seem to be multiplying. Harper is desperately trying to keep her identity a secret from the Hydra-like mass of true crime investigators as well as keep Arthur (her serial killer mentor) from revealing his sinister history as he loses his battle with dementia. Nolan’s steps are being dogged by the seemingly innocuous Sheriff Yates, and he finds himself reacting in ways that threaten to undermine his years of careful planning and executions.
Weaver is a master at using contrast, which she employs liberally in Harvest Season, juxtaposing absolute horror with soft, domestic intimacy. One moment the Harper and Nolan are embroiled in unsettling, macabre situations (i.e.: feeding human snacks to a Raven, creating false trails for Search and Rescue, etc) and the next they are sharing incredibly tender, cozy moments. This sharp contrast prevents the dark themes from becoming monotonous. Instead, the emotional vulnerability feels heightened and earned because it exists alongside the shadows.  The duality exists in the main characters themselves. Harper is both Creator (a gardener) and Destroyer (serial killer). Nolan is a Search and Rescue professional (Savior) while avenging the death of his brother (Punisher).
The setting in Harvest Season functions almost as a living character. Â Weaver utilizes rich, sensory imagery to build a palpable sense of dread and isolation. Â Her visceral descriptions of both the environment and the characters’ physical reactions pull you headfirst into the story.
While Harper and Nolan are obviously the main characters, Arthur and Sheriff Yates play an increasingly larger role in Harvest Season. Previously, I felt Arthur was more someone to be pitied as he struggled with his dementia. However, I begin to question the motivation behind his ‘adoption’ of Harper as a prodigy. At the end of Tourist Season, I felt there was an opportunity to have Sheriff Yates to be another benevolent monster, but I am afraid I’m beginning to think he is simply a monster.
Unlike other books by Brynne Weaver, I think Harvest Season suffers a little from a midsection slump. The plot takes a backseat for several chapters to focus purely on Harper and Nolan’s emotional and physical relationship. While character growth is important, the narrative tension sags significantly during these periods, making the book feel a little slow to get to its ultimate climax (no pun intended).
Weaver’s distinct stylistic choices make it an unforgettable, deliciously moody read, despite the narrative occasionally stumbling over its own pacing. Overlooking a few pacing issues in the middle, Harvest Season is a horrifying (yet fun!), passionate ride.  Weaver proves once again that she knows exactly how to balance the gruesome with the romantic.
Narration:
I think both of the narrators did an exceptional job. Robert Hatchet‘s performance made Nolan strong and sexy, but in a realistic, ‘normal guy’ way. I enjoyed Samantha Brentmoor‘s performance and think she is a perfect balance of emotional vulnerability and humor. I can hear the undertones of banter in her voice which keeps me engaged and brings something extra to the book overall. I listened at 1.2x speed.
Listen to a clip:Â HERE
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I've developed a preference for audiobooks over the last few years, which allow me to complete chores, run carpool, or work on my many building and craft projects while 'reading.
My all time favorite selections include Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, Karen Marie Moning's Fever series, and all of Robin Hobb's books set in the Farseer world. Â Honorable mentions to Elle Kennedy, Penny Reid, Meljean Brook, Ann Aguirre, Krista and Becca Ritchie, Jeaniene Frost, and Kristen Callihan.
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- 🎧 A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn @deannaraybourn.bsky.social #AngeleMasters @recordedbooks.bsky.social #LoveAudiobooks @4saintjude - July 3, 2026
LOL, yes, this combo of elements would seem a bad fit, but fun that she made it work. Sorry it sagged in the middle for you.