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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Fantastic novel, a perfect blend of horror & western. There is a lot in this novel but I never got lost or confused. Every character point of view felt different but I could still hear the authors voice, which is something I love. I would reccomend 1000%
Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian is a wild, genre-blending ride through a post-Civil War Kansas teeming with witches, demons, ghosts, and a ragtag posse chasing a bounty on the enigmatic witch Sadie Grace. This folk horror western delivers a captivating mix of gritty adventure, supernatural chills, and heartfelt character moments, though it occasionally stumbles under its ambitious scope.
The story follows Sadie Grace, a powerful and misunderstood witch in the town of Riddle, who’s blamed for local misfortunes, from crop failures to untimely deaths. A $1,000 bounty on her head—dead or alive—draws a colorful crew, including witch hunter Old Tom and his mute ward Rabbit, vagabond cowboys Ned and Moses, and widowed schoolteacher Rose Nettles. As they race across the drought-stricken plains in a stolen red stagecoach, their journey is fraught with horrors: haunted forests, demonic creatures, and cannibalistic towns. Sadie, aware of her pursuers, wields her magic to protect herself, but there’s more to her story—and the posse—than meets the eye.
Grecian’s strength lies in his vivid world-building and character development. The Kansas setting feels alive, brutal, and steeped in supernatural dread, reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy’s stark landscapes with a magical twist. Sadie Grace is a standout, a complex figure who subverts the “evil witch” trope with her resilience and moral ambiguity. The ensemble cast, from the loyal ghost Joe Mullins to the mysterious Rabbit, is richly drawn, with each character’s personal quest adding emotional depth. The episodic plot weaves their stories together, building to a satisfying, interconnected climax that ties up seemingly minor details with precision.
The horror elements are gruesome and inventive—think toad-possessing demons and cursed farms—balanced by moments of humor and humanity. Grecian’s prose, with its plainspoken yet poetic cadence, echoes Stephen Graham Jones and Larry McMurtry, making the 464-page journey immersive and hard to put down. The audiobook, narrated by John Pirhalla, enhances the experience with its atmospheric delivery.
However, Red Rabbit isn’t flawless. The large cast can feel overwhelming, with new characters introduced before others are fully fleshed out, occasionally diluting emotional investment. The pacing, while deliberate, lags in the middle, and the supernatural elements, while creative, sometimes lack deeper explanation, leaving the world-building feeling surface-level. A few plot threads resolve too early, sapping momentum before the final showdown.
Overall, Red Rabbit is a bold, bewitching tale that blends western grit with folk horror flair. Sadie Grace’s story, and the misfits drawn to her, lingers long after the last page. It’s a must-read for fans of genre mash-ups like The Sisters Brothers or True Grit with a supernatural edge, earning a solid 4/5 stars for its ambition and heart, despite minor stumbles.
The story follows Sadie Grace, a powerful and misunderstood witch in the town of Riddle, who’s blamed for local misfortunes, from crop failures to untimely deaths. A $1,000 bounty on her head—dead or alive—draws a colorful crew, including witch hunter Old Tom and his mute ward Rabbit, vagabond cowboys Ned and Moses, and widowed schoolteacher Rose Nettles. As they race across the drought-stricken plains in a stolen red stagecoach, their journey is fraught with horrors: haunted forests, demonic creatures, and cannibalistic towns. Sadie, aware of her pursuers, wields her magic to protect herself, but there’s more to her story—and the posse—than meets the eye.
Grecian’s strength lies in his vivid world-building and character development. The Kansas setting feels alive, brutal, and steeped in supernatural dread, reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy’s stark landscapes with a magical twist. Sadie Grace is a standout, a complex figure who subverts the “evil witch” trope with her resilience and moral ambiguity. The ensemble cast, from the loyal ghost Joe Mullins to the mysterious Rabbit, is richly drawn, with each character’s personal quest adding emotional depth. The episodic plot weaves their stories together, building to a satisfying, interconnected climax that ties up seemingly minor details with precision.
The horror elements are gruesome and inventive—think toad-possessing demons and cursed farms—balanced by moments of humor and humanity. Grecian’s prose, with its plainspoken yet poetic cadence, echoes Stephen Graham Jones and Larry McMurtry, making the 464-page journey immersive and hard to put down. The audiobook, narrated by John Pirhalla, enhances the experience with its atmospheric delivery.
However, Red Rabbit isn’t flawless. The large cast can feel overwhelming, with new characters introduced before others are fully fleshed out, occasionally diluting emotional investment. The pacing, while deliberate, lags in the middle, and the supernatural elements, while creative, sometimes lack deeper explanation, leaving the world-building feeling surface-level. A few plot threads resolve too early, sapping momentum before the final showdown.
Overall, Red Rabbit is a bold, bewitching tale that blends western grit with folk horror flair. Sadie Grace’s story, and the misfits drawn to her, lingers long after the last page. It’s a must-read for fans of genre mash-ups like The Sisters Brothers or True Grit with a supernatural edge, earning a solid 4/5 stars for its ambition and heart, despite minor stumbles.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Fun to read and very well-written, it often reminded me of a Stephen King book (particularly The Stand, one of my all-time faves). The ending felt a little hasty and I found it difficult to keep track of/become attached to some of the characters because of how many there are but they were all fleshed out enough to feel relevant and important to the story
This book is hands down my favorite of 2024!
The story follows a group of misfits who are like the Six of Crows from Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, but with a dark and scary twist. There are some disturbing scenes, so be warned!
The story follows a group of misfits who are like the Six of Crows from Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, but with a dark and scary twist. There are some disturbing scenes, so be warned!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
this book satiated something i didn’t know i needed. imagine all the freaky ass parts of red dead redemption 2 and cobble them into a book. that’s this. i had sooooo much fun with this. a little disappointed there is a sequel i think it works best as a standalone.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
funny
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced