Book Review: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, by Stephen Graham Jones

  I want to just write 5000 stars, no notes... but that wouldn't really be...correct. 

  I have an odd relationship with this novel  and perhaps just with SGJ in genera. 

  SOOOOO,  The Indian Lake Trilogy broke me down and put me back together. It was a very intense reading experience.  After that I dipped into more of his work, The Babysitter lives is one that entirely creeped me out, and there were a few unfortunate experiences- Zombie Bakeoff did not do it for me.  As I digested more of his work, I could see a progression within SGJ's writing-- things he was creating, massaging, and experimenting with through all of his works. I liked it. I always feel like, if this author is anything, he's genuinely the real deal- a writer who's put in the work - and now he's putting all of that knowledge and work together to give readers a genuine, impactful, powerful and enjoyable work. And A lot of folks seem to agree with me. Mostly horror folks. I really couldn't convince anyone that they needed to read a book about a "chainsaw heart" but if they had read it, we'd both chat so enthusiastically. He's got a unique style and some folks don't love it.  

Along came The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, and this book- had more press than some films! 

Buffalo Hunter Hunter has had SO MUCH publicity, I was a little...concerned it wouldn't live up to the hype.  I mean look at the spread for the reading guide! It's so obviously BIG BIG BUDGET.   SGJ suddenly looks like a film star...rather than a mountain biking professor.

 When I came out, I grabbed the audio copy from my library, and actually- read about 3 chapters and then it sat, until it was returned to the library. Something was not sitting right with me. I suspect it was that I had too much going on, and for me it was something I really wanted to absorb deep into my skin. 

I restarted it as a buddy read with one of my TikTok pals.  Same book, different time. She blew through it in 2 days on a road trip. I took about 2 weeks. As I let the narrative unfold, I became so invested in the characters - the sort of crept in and settled and I found them in the periphery of my thought all the time. 

   As a summary - this is a novel told in multiple timelines, Etsy- a "modern day" professor of literature is struggling with the "Publish or Perish" situation in academia when a journal of a relative is returned to her.  This diary tells the story of her relative- a Lutheran Pastor in 1912, and of Good Stab, a member of the Blackfeet- who has lived an extraordinary life. and yes - there is a vampire involved...but I surely don't want to give a book report.  I will say this is an excellent novel to explore ideas, and themes of horror, destruction, exploitation, revenge, forgiveness, and justice. Knowing more about US history, particularly the Marias Massacre of 1870 will help readers understand the narrative in a deeper way. 

This is a 1925 Re-enactment of a War Dance, and I like this photo as it shows sort of the progression of time and circumstance.  It's slightly later than the time frame that SGJ wrote about, but,  I just feel like the wagons, and the audience sort of... showed an interesting juxtaposition. 

Underwood & Underwood, C. C. (ca. 1925) Re-enactment of war dance at Blackfeet Indian reservation at Browning, Montana. Montana Blackfeet Indian Reservation Browning, ca. 1925. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2012646812/.

  For me the thing that really shines  is the sort of - off hand observations made by all the characters- that hints at just how much we have in common. These bring the characters to life- and the story. The second thing, and I do not know how SGJ does it, but he writes women well. I noticed this in the Indian Lake Trilogy as well, and I can only surmise that he observes and then is able to apply small details that usually aren't noted by other writers.  Just perfection.  Some have said they had trouble with this book- and noted a "Staccato" writing style, and I did note that there was sort of punctuated feeling while reading this one, but it didn't bother me.  I actually think this may be his best yet. 

Surely looking forward to more! 

First Published : 3/2025

Pages: 448

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: Animal death, mass death, murder, blood consumption, vampires, 

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly

Book Review: Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma

  Spooky Season is in full swing at my house!  I'm so pleased to have finished Immortal Dark! 

This novel has been on my radar since it came out in 2024. It made a big splash across "Booktok"  and I thought this was going to be sort of a Book Tok fluffy vampire book with some nods to Ethiopian culture,  and boy was I wrong. I honestly am left wondering if I read the same book as the bubbly enthusiastic reviewers did. 

   Not that it isn't good.  It IS very very GOOD.  It just pretty much transcends the usual Book Tok tropes and has a lot more depth than what is normally on offer. (and yes, we do all create our own algorithims) ...

   Our protagonist, Kidan is one tough woman. She and her sister were raised outside of the Vampire/Human society they were born to. In order to protect herself and her sister, Kidan has done some unspeakable things. When we meet Kidan, June (the sister) has disappeared and Kidan is searching frantically for her. Kidan is given an opportunity to locate her sister, while reclaiming her familial house on the famed Uxlay campus. The house (which indeed is sentient!) is occupied by Susenyos- a Vampire with a checkered past. The two are instant enemies, and like all good romances, the enemies soon find they have more in common than they have differences. 

   We have all likely read our share of vampire novels. Immortal Dark is a bit of a new take on the well worn vampire tropes. Her novel brings in pieces of various African cultures, entwining this with classic vampire stories. For me, the balance between familiar vampire themes and the African highlights was perfect, each augmenting the other and fitting together seamlessly. 

   What struck me about this novel is that none of the characters are particularly likeable. I intermittently found myself cheering for Susenyos and in the next minute deciding that I was more for Kidan, and often deciding that I really didn't like either's scheming, difficult personalities. This leaves all sorts of space for discussion of morality, loyalty, the cost of deception. I was compelled to find out what happens and read for 4 hours straight to get to the end.  I'm lining up for book two now. Will Kidan and Susenyos reject their prior bad acts or will they choose to fall deeper into the dark? I can't wait to find out. 

   Great read for Spooky Season! 

First Published : 2024

Pages: 448

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: parental death, SI, violence, strong language, blood drinking, death, murder, parental abuse,  

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly. 

Book Review: Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna Van Veen

 Blood on her Tongue was my book club read for May.  I dutifully borrowed it from the library on my kindle and read 1-2 chapters. Then I promptly put it down.  I admit, if you want me to read something, I do much better with an actual physical copy or an audio book. 

So, when I saw the audiobook on Net Galley, I hit "request".  My Book buddy had the same idea, and we ended up both with Advanced listener copies.  Many Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ALC. 

I am very glad I had her to read with because we flew through this lush gothic historical vampire horror novel.  Our reaction when we finished was "WHAT DID I JUST READ" 

    This is definitely a book for a specific audience.  I'm not saying I'm not that audience, but... I'm also not saying that I definitively AM that audience. It left me feeling a little bit unsettled overall. 

    No spoiler synopsis-  Sarah and Lucy are twins and very close. Sarah marries and Lucy remains single due to no dowry situation after their parents pass on. A bog body is found on the property where Sarah resides. It's buried in a curious way, and while it is being unearthed, curious Sarah is essentially bitten by this body and thus begins a terrifying and horrific illness. Lucy travels to her side, but Sarah indeed worsens. As Sarah's body sickens, secrets are revealed and Lucy must contend with these secrets and also with the two overbearing men involved in the novel, Sarah's husband, and the friend of the family - the doctor.  As Lucy navigates a quite tricky situation- she becomes protector and investigator rolled into one- roles she's not feeling particularly prepared for nor skilled at. 

   The writing is fantastic.  Tight and well put together. I did note a few very modern kind of terms popped in here and there.  A phrase "it is what it is" was used and seemed quite out of place for the setting and time frame, but in general- the scene was set and I could feel the dreary- eerie quality of the Zwartwater Estate where much of the novel is set. In face, both my buddy and I decided that the book was making us feel quite distressed and unsettled - which is a little odd as it stuck with me even after I set it down. 

Emily Tucker narrates the book and I appreciated the clear narration that did not detract from the story.   She doesn't do any special voices in the story, but given the nature of this novel, I think the clean clear narration was plenty! 

   This would be a great book for summerween, spooky season, and for fans of Gothic Horror (with a capital G!)   There is even a deluxe edition with sprayed edges.  For me, it might actually be that one step too far into creepy and I'll stick with the audio version. 

STATS

First Published : March 2025

Pages: 368

Available as an Audio Book : YES

Trigger Warnings: Death, chronic illness, violence,  alcohol, medical content, body horror, eyeball horror, mental health, child death, accidental burial, cannibalism, domestic violence, classism (not a full list- read responsibly!!!!)

 

Book Review Devils Kill Devils by Johnny Compton 5/5 stars

  This book was PERFECTION! 

Johnny Compton delivers a fresh, tight, creepy, freaky, spooky novel that involves vampires, Gods, demons and angels- all within a contemporary setting without allowing any sinking in to the maudlin, stereotypical situations that we sometimes find in horror fiction. This felt, entirely new, and yet somehow very connected to the classic horror that fans of the genre love. 

 In Summary- Sarita's a woman who's always had a guardian angel. She's not entirely comfortable with that fact, but she's certainly shaped her young life around the angel's protection. When this angel kills someone she cares about, she starts to question, and unravel what's really going on, and... readers, what's really going on isn't exactly angelic. Telling too much more might "spoil" the novel, so I'm going to stop right there. 

   I am always a bit hesitant about male authors writing books with female protagonists/main characters. In the first few charters, I did wonder a bit if this was going to be a problem. Sarita is not that fully developed, and that initially bothered me. As I became fully engaged in the story that Compton was telling, I realized that Sarita, herself, was never really the main attraction- she was just a person swept into this drama between devils, angels, Gods and vampires, destined to play a part, but not personally committed to it-until she had to be, which was much further along.  So in this case- I did not find any issue with how he portrayed Sarita, or actually any of the women in the book.  Big bonus points for this author! She did come through this, like an amazing final girl in the end, which put a smile on my face. 

Compton's portrayal of vampires- in all their gruesome glory was also  enjoyable.  This may be because I've been reading a bunch of very cute-sy Vampire rom-coms that kind of make a joke out of them- having to ask permission to enter homes, disliking garlic in cooking, wearing shades all the time etc. Not Compton's Vamps. These creatures are true night crawlers who aren't at all interested in love or permissions. It's all power and lust, especially blood lust for them. The fear they invoke reminds me of the sick dread one experiences reading parts of Dracula. 

Photo by Carol Highsmith - 

• Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print

I kept imagining this as the opening to a certain mountain featured in the novel, though this certainly isn't how it's portrayed- I couldn't help myself. 

 To round this all out, Compton pulls in some local (real, historical places in Texas) areas and some global myths to round out and amp up the creepy factor- there's a unique melding of some Texan stories with old Russian creatures that is just somehow satisfying. 

      Let me know if you pick this up! This one is not one for my local book club, but it should be one for horror readers. I'm racing over to my library right now to find his other, earlier novel - The Spite house.