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A review by screamdogreads
Hunger on the Chisholm Trail by M. Ennenbach
3.0
"The howling went on long into the night as the night watch kept their rotation around the mindless herd. A fresh mound of dirt, two sticks in a makeshift cross, and an empty pair of boots were the only reminder of a fallen friend."
Hunger on the Chisholm Trail is a viscerally upsetting, violent, brutal and disgusting tale of Western horror. From the very get-go, it's obvious that this is a Wendigo story, rather than fall into the typical however, Hunger on the Chisholm Trail offers a rather fresh and interesting take on the Wendigo, opting instead for more brutal showdowns than something more lore heavy. This isn't a particularly long novel, and it's all over pretty quickly, it is, however, a slice of brutally amazing, blood-drenched, gore-slicked fun.
The sense of time and place in this novel is intensely strong, M. Ennenbach transports us to the dusty plains, flings us down upon the beer soaked flooring of the saloons, and allows us to marvel in wonder at the shock of the monster. It's a strong entry into the Splatter Western series, not the best, but still a contender. The writing is just descriptive enough to immerse us in the world without becoming bogged down, allowing the brutality of the Wendigo to take the spotlight. It's a brilliant, fun and disturbing little novel, one that never takes itself too seriously.
Hunger on the Chisholm Trail is a viscerally upsetting, violent, brutal and disgusting tale of Western horror. From the very get-go, it's obvious that this is a Wendigo story, rather than fall into the typical however, Hunger on the Chisholm Trail offers a rather fresh and interesting take on the Wendigo, opting instead for more brutal showdowns than something more lore heavy. This isn't a particularly long novel, and it's all over pretty quickly, it is, however, a slice of brutally amazing, blood-drenched, gore-slicked fun.
The sense of time and place in this novel is intensely strong, M. Ennenbach transports us to the dusty plains, flings us down upon the beer soaked flooring of the saloons, and allows us to marvel in wonder at the shock of the monster. It's a strong entry into the Splatter Western series, not the best, but still a contender. The writing is just descriptive enough to immerse us in the world without becoming bogged down, allowing the brutality of the Wendigo to take the spotlight. It's a brilliant, fun and disturbing little novel, one that never takes itself too seriously.
"He blinked and looked up through the haze in his head. The thing stood in front of him. The skin stretched over ropy muscle and seemed to be at the verge of splitting. The head cocked as it stared down at him, as if trying to figure out exactly what it looked down upon. Lee knew the answer at that moment. It was looking at its next meal."
Hunger on the Chisholm Trail is a brutal bloodbath. The bodies do not stop dropping in this novel, it's absolute carnage throughout, it's pure violence, death, hatred and more violence. The monster of this novel is absolutely menacing, a true fright. Ultimately, this is a decent entry into an extremely great series, one that will bring joy to horror fans who are looking to experience a slice of the great American West.
"The West could be beautiful, as long as the untamed was respected."