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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
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
flexxington's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Racism, Torture, Abortion, Gun violence, Body horror, Suicide, Death, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Animal death, and Gore
erynlasbelin's review
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Murder, Stalking, Torture, Violence, Blood, Gore, Vomit, and Alcoholism
Minor: Grief, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Body shaming, Cursing, Excrement, Fatphobia, Rape, Racism, Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Medical content, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
readthesparrow's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
SUMMARY
Sadie Grace is wanted for witchcraft. And every hired gun in Kansas is out to collect the bounty on her head, including witch hunter Old Tom and his mysterious, mute ward, Rabbit.
On the road to Burden County, they’re joined by two vagabond cowboys with a strong sense of adventure – but no sense of purpose – and a recently widowed school teacher with nothing left to lose. As their posse grows, so too does the danger.
Racing along the landscape in a stolen red stagecoach, they encounter monsters--and men--more wicked than witches lurking along the dusty trail. (adapted from https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250874689/redrabbit)
REVIEW
As someone obsessed with epic poetry, folklore, and long-ass books, I loved Red Rabbit.
The book is a brick at over 400 pages, broken into seven parts. Point of view is third person, and shifts between characters chapter-by-chapter, sometimes even jumping to characters whom we haven’t met and whose relation to the plot is unclear (at least, until it all comes together and their relation to the plot becomes *very* clear).
Grecian doesn’t waste time, but he also doesn’t rush–the pacing overall is excellent, and carries well throughout the entire length. The only minor criticism I have is that the leadup to the final confrontation feels a bit rushed, but considering how eager I was to see what happened next, I didn’t mind too much.
The characters are so textured. Whether I loved them dearly or wanted to trample them with a horse, I wanted to see what they were going to do next. The whole cast–even characters I thought I would dislike, such as Joe Mullins–quickly grew close to my heart.
(Except Tom. Fuck that guy.)
Despite having already spent 400 pages with Sadie, Rose, Ned, Moses, Rabbit, and stranger folk we meet near the final leg of the road, I wish we could have spent more time with them before the story drew to a close. I want to know more about Ned and Moses’ adventures, and more about their friendship. I want to see what Rose does after that final chapter. Hell, the setting itself (as all good settings are) became its own character–even if we don’t get to see more from the Red Rabbit crew, I would love another book that explores Red Rabbit’s setting in the future. I love folk horror and supernatural weird west, and the take executed by Grecian was fantastic.
The villain was delightfully terrifying. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say this: the villain reminds me of a Hieronymus Bosch painting, if that Hieronymus Bosch painting wanted to hunt you for sport.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’ll definitely be returning to Red Rabbit in the future. It’s got everything I love: an odyssey, fantastic characters, weird folk horror, cowboys, and a freaky, intimidating villain whose only goal in life is to cause murder on purpose. I’d love to give the audiobook a listen–I’ve heard good things.
If you also love horror weird West, you’ve got to read Red Rabbit. It’s one helluva bloody ride.
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group for providing a digital ARC via Netgalley. If you are interested in Red Rabbit, it releases 19 September 2023.
If possible, support indie bookshops by purchasing the novel from your local brick and mortar or from Bookshop.org!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Suicide, Body horror, Animal death, Death, Gore, Animal cruelty, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Cannibalism, Alcoholism, Racism, Alcohol, Child death, Sexism, Grief, Racial slurs, Misogyny, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Medical content, Sexual harassment, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Vomit, and Infertility
apairofducks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
What a fantastic horror western. Grecian’s ability to set a tense mood was so effective that at one point I had to stop reading at night and promise that I’d start reading again when it was light outside. Every character felt distinct, and every movement of the plot, no matter what odd town or haunted forest we passed through, kept me hooked.
This novel is also a feat of first person omniscient! I’ve read too many novels recently that tried to do first person close with alternating POVs, and I need them to read this novel and take notes.
This novel is also a feat of first person omniscient! I’ve read too many novels recently that tried to do first person close with alternating POVs, and I need them to read this novel and take notes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Animal death, Violence, Blood, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Torture, Child death, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Racism, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Suicidal thoughts
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