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sheriffrockyraccoon's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I was excited to read a cowboy horror- something that I never would have thought of but seems so perfect- and was eager to start it. While it is definitely violent, I fell in love with the characters and enjoyed the plot as they battled different supernatural elements on the prairie.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in what I would call “D&D” horror. It’s an unlikely group that set on an adventure with many familiar supernatural/horror events. I thought Grecian’s take on traditional folklore and ghost stories was a refreshing take that kept me on my toes.
For me, personally, the violence against animals was too excessive which is why I docked it a star. If that doesn’t bother you, I would definitely give it a read.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in what I would call “D&D” horror. It’s an unlikely group that set on an adventure with many familiar supernatural/horror events. I thought Grecian’s take on traditional folklore and ghost stories was a refreshing take that kept me on my toes.
For me, personally, the violence against animals was too excessive which is why I docked it a star. If that doesn’t bother you, I would definitely give it a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Gore, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, and Violence
Moderate: Abortion, Cursing, Medical content, Suicide, Racism, and Vomit
Minor: Excrement, Fatphobia, and Stalking
fannikay's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Gun violence, Violence, Child death, Cannibalism, and Gore
britnic's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Gore, Torture, and Cannibalism
mwv's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Suicide, Cannibalism, and Racism
wyabook234's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Animal death, and Gore
Moderate: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Cannibalism
Minor: Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Sexism
bookbrig's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I'm not sure why I originally put this on hold, but I highly recommend the audiobook if you can get it. The reader is fantastic, and there are a couple songs in the story that are accompanied by music and are quite lovely to listen to. This is a gritty magical western with a roadtrip adventure feel, and I loved the characters and the slowly twisting journey. It's gory and occasionally kind of gross, but for all the darkness it didn't get too horrifying for me. And there's a core of kindness and sweetness to some of the characters that offsets all the evil.
The ending didn't quite stick the landing for me, because after all the build-up I felt like it unspooled too quickly, leaving me wanting a little something more. But I'd still recommend it. I think I'll booktalk this one for teens who enjoy Stephen King, though I'd likely go with readers in high school or older.
The ending didn't quite stick the landing for me, because after all the build-up I felt like it unspooled too quickly, leaving me wanting a little something more. But I'd still recommend it. I think I'll booktalk this one for teens who enjoy Stephen King, though I'd likely go with readers in high school or older.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Suicide, Child death, Animal death, Gore, and Racism
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Vomit, and Torture
Minor: Infidelity and Slavery
jkrhode's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Gore, Death, Blood, and Animal death
stephanieluxton's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book follows the journey of a witchhunter, a silent child, a teacher, two cowboys, and a couple other surprise companions on their way to find a witch with a bounty on her head. The journey reads in a way that feels episodic (similar to Between Two FIre by Christopher Buelman) - along the way the group encounters different horrors which I don't want to spoil. It's best to go into this not knowing too much.
I didn't have expectations for this book going into it. I read it because a coworker recommeneded it. And I loved it! What an epic adventure. This book is neat because there are a lot of main characters but they're all pretty well-rounded and you grow to really care for them. The old timey pioneer-esque setting blends really well with the horror and supernatural themes. It doesn't seem like it should work, but it does. There's a lot of little twists and turns. The heroes are imperfect. The villains are scary.
This is a book that subverts your expectations. I recommend this to anyone who reads a lot and is wanting something that feels fresh.
I didn't have expectations for this book going into it. I read it because a coworker recommeneded it. And I loved it! What an epic adventure. This book is neat because there are a lot of main characters but they're all pretty well-rounded and you grow to really care for them. The old timey pioneer-esque setting blends really well with the horror and supernatural themes. It doesn't seem like it should work, but it does. There's a lot of little twists and turns. The heroes are imperfect. The villains are scary.
This is a book that subverts your expectations. I recommend this to anyone who reads a lot and is wanting something that feels fresh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gun violence, Gore, Cannibalism, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: Cancer, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Child death, Racism, and Alcohol
binchbean's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Animal death, Gore, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death
chrschn's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Fantastic from start to finish. Tore through this in a single 24 hour period, and would likely have done it in a single sitting were I a faster reader or unburdened with the need for sleep or food. (Skill issue, really).
Tightly written weird western adventure that reads equal parts folk legend and gunslinging thriller, with a healthy dose of dark, unsettling horror mixed in. Red Rabbit’s depiction of Kansas is rich in magic, witchcraft, monsters, and some things worse than monsters. The primary antagonist is deeply disturbing and feels like a slimy black ooze in your brain.
There are a handful of central characters in the mix, each with their own peculiarities and motivations, some good, some bad, and some that are revealed along the way. Despite the wide cast of characters, each feels lifelike and realized and really jump off the page. Found myself very invested in the ensemble cast, and was pleasantly surprised with one character in particular who at first glance seemed little more than a set piece, but ended up being one of my favorites in the whole book.
The writing is vivid and descriptive without stumbling over clumsy metaphors or flowery language, and every scene plays out like a scene in a movie. (Side note, I would be shocked if this didn’t make it to screen in the near future). It should be noted what an accomplishment it is that the horror elements are successfully visceral, creepy, grimy, and unsettling without resorting to the sexual violence or graphic animal death that so commonly plague the genre. I understand that some people find this more palatable, but it feels cheap and grating at this point, so the absence of such content was hugely refreshing.
Super fun book overall and will be recommending this one to anyone who will listen.
Tightly written weird western adventure that reads equal parts folk legend and gunslinging thriller, with a healthy dose of dark, unsettling horror mixed in. Red Rabbit’s depiction of Kansas is rich in magic, witchcraft, monsters, and some things worse than monsters. The primary antagonist is deeply disturbing and feels like a slimy black ooze in your brain.
There are a handful of central characters in the mix, each with their own peculiarities and motivations, some good, some bad, and some that are revealed along the way. Despite the wide cast of characters, each feels lifelike and realized and really jump off the page. Found myself very invested in the ensemble cast, and was pleasantly surprised with one character in particular who at first glance seemed little more than a set piece, but ended up being one of my favorites in the whole book.
The writing is vivid and descriptive without stumbling over clumsy metaphors or flowery language, and every scene plays out like a scene in a movie. (Side note, I would be shocked if this didn’t make it to screen in the near future). It should be noted what an accomplishment it is that the horror elements are successfully visceral, creepy, grimy, and unsettling without resorting to the sexual violence or graphic animal death that so commonly plague the genre. I understand that some people find this more palatable, but it feels cheap and grating at this point, so the absence of such content was hugely refreshing.
Super fun book overall and will be recommending this one to anyone who will listen.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Cannibalism and Animal death