Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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:
Yes
Really liked this book but found it hard to get through, probably because of how unapologetically it depicts the graphic and vulgar beginings of America. Besides the vampires, the core of this story is based on real events, much of which involve the horrid treatment of indigenous Americans. Its a truth that can be hard to read but in my opinion very necessary, considering the white washing of history that has happened in decades after. Besides the violence against native tribes there's also a lot of violence towards animals of pretty much all varieties common to that area, going much further than normal hunting. The story follows a revenge fueled journey of an Indian known as good stab, aswell as a few other names. There's a lot to like about him but plenty to dislike aswell but in the end nearly everything he does can be somewhat justified, with a couple exceptions. The same cannot be said about Arthur, the pastor. I'll just say the truth of the kind of man he really came as a surprise. Besides all that I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot about history in the process.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
my favorite thing about this novel was the language: the time it takes for you to adjust to the language of the story, the importance, purpose, history and fluidity of names, the narrative choice to note which language a character is speaking in, the way both arthur and etsy appropriate good stab’s vocabulary once they hear him use it, in a way that’s breathtakingly presumptuous and overly familiar.
everybody wants to be forgiven but nobody wants to atone!
other highlights: Weasel Plume, Kills-in-the-Water, Yellow Kidney, and Yellow Kidney’s unnamed little sister, my beloveds 💔 this novel rewards the reader for paying attention; each detail is purposefully included. the themes (consumption, hunger, gluttony, insatiability, ego, sin, salvation, racism, white supremacy, paternalism, helplessness (self imposed!), violence, genocide, hypocrisy, cultural loss, waste, survival, justice, cowardice, extractive vs harmonious interactions with nature, etc) are masterfully explored. you feel voyeuristic reading this book, because it’s grim and traumatic and deeply unsettling, but this is phenomenal, one of my top books of the year.
other highlights: Weasel Plume, Kills-in-the-Water, Yellow Kidney, and Yellow Kidney’s unnamed little sister, my beloveds 💔 this novel rewards the reader for paying attention; each detail is purposefully included. the themes (consumption, hunger, gluttony, insatiability, ego, sin, salvation, racism, white supremacy, paternalism, helplessness (self imposed!), violence, genocide, hypocrisy, cultural loss, waste, survival, justice, cowardice, extractive vs harmonious interactions with nature, etc) are masterfully explored. you feel voyeuristic reading this book, because it’s grim and traumatic and deeply unsettling, but this is phenomenal, one of my top books of the year.
apparently i do like the vampire genre but only if it’s about vampires of color lmao thank you amc’s interview with the vampire, sinners and the buffalo hunter hunter for your service
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow. I wish I had picked up the audiobook version of this because I feel like that experience would have been unmatched. The story-telling quality, like you’re sitting and listening to this tale be told, is incredible.
This book is great for anyone who loves historical horror, and Native American gothics.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝:
• The story-telling in general is just such a selling point of this book.
• The parallel of food between the characters took me a minute to pick up on but after I did I loved seeing it. I loved the contrast, the gluttony.
• The story-telling in general is just such a selling point of this book.
• The parallel of food between the characters took me a minute to pick up on but after I did I loved seeing it. I loved the contrast, the gluttony.
• The horror element is so slow building and ominous, I just absolutely love stories that let it build and build until the tension feels like it’s in your throat. Beautifully done.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
• I can understand where some people are coming from in that this is a very wordy book, I didn’t mind so much but I understood. It takes some getting used too, and I struggled with the first couple chapters until I hit the hook. Even by the end of the book there were some words I didn’t quite understand. None of that actually took my enjoyment away though.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
• I can understand where some people are coming from in that this is a very wordy book, I didn’t mind so much but I understood. It takes some getting used too, and I struggled with the first couple chapters until I hit the hook. Even by the end of the book there were some words I didn’t quite understand. None of that actually took my enjoyment away though.
This is one I would absolutely love to re-read maybe a year from now. I loved the ending. I loved the story. I hope this gets an HBO mini-series or something because I would love to see more of the story come to life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence
Moderate: Racism, Rape
Minor: Kidnapping, Alcohol
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“This, I believe, is the story of America, told in a forgotten church in the hinterlands, with a choir of the dead mutely witnessing.”
This is marketed as horror which I get because vampires, but I didn’t feel like it was “horror” so much as a look into the horror that is our history. Like maybe I should be horrified by Good Stab but I honestly think he should’ve done worse.
HUGE trigger warning for animal harm throughout this book. The people harm isn’t even upsetting imo but reading about the animals was heartbreaking.
I was blown away by the writing and will definitely be reading more by the author.
This is marketed as horror which I get because vampires, but I didn’t feel like it was “horror” so much as a look into the horror that is our history. Like maybe I should be horrified by Good Stab but I honestly think he should’ve done worse.
HUGE trigger warning for animal harm throughout this book. The people harm isn’t even upsetting imo but reading about the animals was heartbreaking.
I was blown away by the writing and will definitely be reading more by the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Racism
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Genocide, Gore, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail