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That Light Sublime Trilogy #1
The Massacre at Yellow Hill
The Definitive Edition of C.S. Humble's epic, featuring a new forward by Sadie Hartmann. The Massacre at Yellow Hill is the first book in the That Light Sublime trilogy and the Amid the Vastness of All Else saga.
"Humble writes with rare passion in the tradition of Robert E. Howard and a young Stephen King." —Laird Barron
"Humble writes with rare passion in the tradition of Robert E. Howard and a young Stephen King." —Laird Barron
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 22, 2018
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1575 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
July 26, 2023
THE MASSACRE AT YELLOW HILL (Book 1: That Light Sublime Trilogy)
You can listen to me READ this review:
https://open.substack.com/pub/sadieha...
Other books I’ve enjoyed/recommended: The Black Wells Series Books 1 & 2
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978158767...
Release Date: April 17th, 2023
General Genre: BISAC Categories: Horror - General, Westerns - General
Subgenre/Themes: Western, Supernatural/Vampires, Creature-Feature, Occult, Small Town Horror, Coming-of-Age
Writing Style: Multiple POV, short chapters, fast pace, character-driven, lush/accessible prose written with purpose and intention, intricately plotted
What You Need to Know: I am the editor-in-chief of Dark Hart Books, publisher of Humble’s Black Wells Series which means I stand behind C. S. Humble’s work as a publisher, a Bram Stoker Awards nominated editor, and the author of 101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered. Cemetery Dance stands with me behind That Light Sublime Trilogy and basically, what I’m telling you in my loudest voice possible, is that Humble’s work is not only worth your time, it’s worth prominent retail space on your shelves and worth opening your reader’s heart because that, my friends, are where these characters will live in perpetuity.
My Reading Experience: Goddamn it if this book didn’t catch me hard in the feels, again! I already read this book when it was self-published. I knew what to expect going into this a second time but there was something different about returning to these characters after knowing everything that I know (yes, I’ve read the whole trilogy). I’d like to use this time to remind anyone reading this that it’s not a review, it’s a response. It’s my heart glowing. My brain fired up. It’s me trying to explain the way this book made me feel alive and excited and emotional and this is just me organically trying to put these things into words so that you can decide for yourselves if this is something you want to enjoy for yourself.
I’m not great at explaining why an author’s storytelling works for me or not but what I can share is that this is character-driven work. A lot of intention and purpose went into the craftsmanship of creating characters with authenticity. These characters act independently from one another with their own motivations, their own emotions, reactions, voices, and opinions, all the things that make each person special and uniquely them are accounted for. Nobody is a stand-in. Not one person in this story given a name is wasted.
And the main protagonists are fucking real. They are actively doing things while they’re talking to each other. They’re making coffee, lighting a pipe, brushing their horses…they have tears, they tuck in their shirts, and their eyes are scanning the room or conveying emotions to one another. The author is busy recording everything they’re saying and doing. The barroom is a place. The Miller family lives in a house. The mine shaft has lighting along the walls, am I doing a good job explaining how intricately and carefully this story has been crafted? The chapters serve the purpose of propelling the action forward, they’re succinct, organized, and fluid. The backstories of our favorite characters are exactly where they need to be at the perfect time. I mean, sometimes our participation, as readers, in a very well-written book, is a reminder of what quality feels like while you’re reading it. You can suddenly be struck with the realization that this is how storytelling is supposed to be. An author has the ability, the skills, to lift the reader up and out of themselves and set them down in another world, another time, to live other lives as people in the middle of a supernatural horror Western. We get to wonder what terrible thing has taken up residence inside a mine.
We meet a family crushed by grief and devastating loss. A woman, Tabitha now a widow with a young son, Georgie, and a daughter, Annie.
“Dunes of sand rolled out forever. Hundreds of miles of beach and not a drop of ocean. That is what her life had become. All grit and no salve.
But sadness wouldn’t win today. She told herself. She had to find a way to stop crying in front of the children, even when it was hard. If they were going to work past their father’s death, if they were ever going to find that strength in themselves, they had to see it in her first.”
The Millers. It’s terrifying how much I fell in love with this family the second time around, they’re all treasured-up in my heart.
You will also experience the love between an orphan boy named Carson adopted, loved, and cared for by a man named Gilbert Ptolemy. They are on a journey to save the world. Maybe my most beloved trope of all time, an older, wiser, hardened man looking after a child who is alone in this world (this is where I could list them all but I’m thinking specifically of Roland and Jake, Joel and Ellie, Eleven and Hopper, etc.).
And if all of this isn’t enough (it is) there’s also epic fucking horror. Vampires, some kind of Hell-beasts, a secret society of the occult, an ancient tome that drives people insane, and the most horrific vampire, Sigurd of Antioch. The only people that we know of who can stop all of this madness? The characters we’re in love with. So, hold on to your heart in your chest.
Final Recommendation: Um, buy this fucking book and then the next two.
Comps: Like if King, Lansdale, McMurtry, Tolkien, and Lewis smashed their voices together to write a horror Western.
You can listen to me READ this review:
https://open.substack.com/pub/sadieha...
Other books I’ve enjoyed/recommended: The Black Wells Series Books 1 & 2
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978158767...
Release Date: April 17th, 2023
General Genre: BISAC Categories: Horror - General, Westerns - General
Subgenre/Themes: Western, Supernatural/Vampires, Creature-Feature, Occult, Small Town Horror, Coming-of-Age
Writing Style: Multiple POV, short chapters, fast pace, character-driven, lush/accessible prose written with purpose and intention, intricately plotted
What You Need to Know: I am the editor-in-chief of Dark Hart Books, publisher of Humble’s Black Wells Series which means I stand behind C. S. Humble’s work as a publisher, a Bram Stoker Awards nominated editor, and the author of 101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered. Cemetery Dance stands with me behind That Light Sublime Trilogy and basically, what I’m telling you in my loudest voice possible, is that Humble’s work is not only worth your time, it’s worth prominent retail space on your shelves and worth opening your reader’s heart because that, my friends, are where these characters will live in perpetuity.
My Reading Experience: Goddamn it if this book didn’t catch me hard in the feels, again! I already read this book when it was self-published. I knew what to expect going into this a second time but there was something different about returning to these characters after knowing everything that I know (yes, I’ve read the whole trilogy). I’d like to use this time to remind anyone reading this that it’s not a review, it’s a response. It’s my heart glowing. My brain fired up. It’s me trying to explain the way this book made me feel alive and excited and emotional and this is just me organically trying to put these things into words so that you can decide for yourselves if this is something you want to enjoy for yourself.
I’m not great at explaining why an author’s storytelling works for me or not but what I can share is that this is character-driven work. A lot of intention and purpose went into the craftsmanship of creating characters with authenticity. These characters act independently from one another with their own motivations, their own emotions, reactions, voices, and opinions, all the things that make each person special and uniquely them are accounted for. Nobody is a stand-in. Not one person in this story given a name is wasted.
And the main protagonists are fucking real. They are actively doing things while they’re talking to each other. They’re making coffee, lighting a pipe, brushing their horses…they have tears, they tuck in their shirts, and their eyes are scanning the room or conveying emotions to one another. The author is busy recording everything they’re saying and doing. The barroom is a place. The Miller family lives in a house. The mine shaft has lighting along the walls, am I doing a good job explaining how intricately and carefully this story has been crafted? The chapters serve the purpose of propelling the action forward, they’re succinct, organized, and fluid. The backstories of our favorite characters are exactly where they need to be at the perfect time. I mean, sometimes our participation, as readers, in a very well-written book, is a reminder of what quality feels like while you’re reading it. You can suddenly be struck with the realization that this is how storytelling is supposed to be. An author has the ability, the skills, to lift the reader up and out of themselves and set them down in another world, another time, to live other lives as people in the middle of a supernatural horror Western. We get to wonder what terrible thing has taken up residence inside a mine.
We meet a family crushed by grief and devastating loss. A woman, Tabitha now a widow with a young son, Georgie, and a daughter, Annie.
“Dunes of sand rolled out forever. Hundreds of miles of beach and not a drop of ocean. That is what her life had become. All grit and no salve.
But sadness wouldn’t win today. She told herself. She had to find a way to stop crying in front of the children, even when it was hard. If they were going to work past their father’s death, if they were ever going to find that strength in themselves, they had to see it in her first.”
The Millers. It’s terrifying how much I fell in love with this family the second time around, they’re all treasured-up in my heart.
You will also experience the love between an orphan boy named Carson adopted, loved, and cared for by a man named Gilbert Ptolemy. They are on a journey to save the world. Maybe my most beloved trope of all time, an older, wiser, hardened man looking after a child who is alone in this world (this is where I could list them all but I’m thinking specifically of Roland and Jake, Joel and Ellie, Eleven and Hopper, etc.).
And if all of this isn’t enough (it is) there’s also epic fucking horror. Vampires, some kind of Hell-beasts, a secret society of the occult, an ancient tome that drives people insane, and the most horrific vampire, Sigurd of Antioch. The only people that we know of who can stop all of this madness? The characters we’re in love with. So, hold on to your heart in your chest.
Final Recommendation: Um, buy this fucking book and then the next two.
Comps: Like if King, Lansdale, McMurtry, Tolkien, and Lewis smashed their voices together to write a horror Western.
May 21, 2023
A stranger walks into a saloon, places a coin on the bar. The barman asks what his poison will be. He presses a finger to the tip of his hat, raises it slightly, their eyes meet. The strangers are cold, dead but penetrating. The barman’s peel open with fright, large and bulbous whites, speckled with burst capillaries.
‘I’ll take a shot of Donald Ray Pollock… and a dram of Joe R Lansdale and you can top it off with a dash of Cormac McCarthy…’
‘Yes’sir’ the barman says as he turns to fetch the stranger his drink. He returns moments later, places the drink on the bar with a shaking hand, some of the contents dribbles down the glass.
The stranger looks around the bar, eyes the collect sorry group of day drinkers. He takes a gulp. The liquid refreshing, the mix divine, the subtle notes singing on his tongue: transcendent.
‘Goddamned!’ He exclaims.
‘Good?’ The barman asks, edging closer, eyes still wide, hands still shaking.
‘Heavenly…’ the stranger offers and finishes the drink before slamming the glass back down, the sound a gunshot in the saloon and the dregs playing cards in the corner stop and look up.
‘What’s a tipple like that called?’ The barman asks, ‘If I were to serve it again, to folks around these parts.’
The stranger pulls his hat back down, the shadow of the brim hiding his dead eyes as he glances around the room, he takes in the place, breathes deeply, tasting the smoke and sweat and faint straw from the livery down the way. He pauses, head cocking to the side in contemplation… his lips part revealing his pearly whites.
‘It’s called…The Massacre at Yellow Hill’ he utters, before turning to leave, sauntering over to the batwing doors, his spurs chiming with each footfall. Once at the door he places a hand to one of the batwings, it creaks open and begins to exit…
‘HEY?’ The barman calls out.
The stranger pauses, the batwing doors held open. He cocks his head, doesn’t turn, waits for the sound of a cocked gun, but nothing comes, he grunts over his shoulder, he’s places to be and won’t be waylaid.
‘What’s your name sir?’
‘The names C.S. Humble… and I’ll be seeing you around.’
And with those words the stranger, who now goes by the name C.S. Humble steps from the saloon, the batwing doors swing closed blocking him from sight, when they swing open again, the man has vanished.
‘I’ll take a shot of Donald Ray Pollock… and a dram of Joe R Lansdale and you can top it off with a dash of Cormac McCarthy…’
‘Yes’sir’ the barman says as he turns to fetch the stranger his drink. He returns moments later, places the drink on the bar with a shaking hand, some of the contents dribbles down the glass.
The stranger looks around the bar, eyes the collect sorry group of day drinkers. He takes a gulp. The liquid refreshing, the mix divine, the subtle notes singing on his tongue: transcendent.
‘Goddamned!’ He exclaims.
‘Good?’ The barman asks, edging closer, eyes still wide, hands still shaking.
‘Heavenly…’ the stranger offers and finishes the drink before slamming the glass back down, the sound a gunshot in the saloon and the dregs playing cards in the corner stop and look up.
‘What’s a tipple like that called?’ The barman asks, ‘If I were to serve it again, to folks around these parts.’
The stranger pulls his hat back down, the shadow of the brim hiding his dead eyes as he glances around the room, he takes in the place, breathes deeply, tasting the smoke and sweat and faint straw from the livery down the way. He pauses, head cocking to the side in contemplation… his lips part revealing his pearly whites.
‘It’s called…The Massacre at Yellow Hill’ he utters, before turning to leave, sauntering over to the batwing doors, his spurs chiming with each footfall. Once at the door he places a hand to one of the batwings, it creaks open and begins to exit…
‘HEY?’ The barman calls out.
The stranger pauses, the batwing doors held open. He cocks his head, doesn’t turn, waits for the sound of a cocked gun, but nothing comes, he grunts over his shoulder, he’s places to be and won’t be waylaid.
‘What’s your name sir?’
‘The names C.S. Humble… and I’ll be seeing you around.’
And with those words the stranger, who now goes by the name C.S. Humble steps from the saloon, the batwing doors swing closed blocking him from sight, when they swing open again, the man has vanished.
May 28, 2018
3.5, a good shorter story that's based in Texas right after the assassination of Lincoln. Vampires are plaguing the town of Yellow hill. It follows a bunch of different characters all struggling to find out what's happening to their town, and a freed slave who's a vampire hunter.
longer review to come.
----------------------------------------
Plot:
This book is set in Texas right after the civil war and Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, times are tough out in the west and people are scraping by trying to make ends meet. Yellow Hill is an oil/mining town that’s run by a genuine ass named Jeremiah Hart. He has the entire town on lockdown and threatens people who don’t see things his way or do as he says.
The opening scene is of a person who’s died in the mine from mysterious causes. The miners who witnessed what happened claimed they saw some kind of creature maul him, and that they shot at it but it got away. Jeremiah swears them to secrecy and forces them to take hammers to the body to make it look like he died in a cave in, and not some kind of predator.
The widow of the man who died is trying to make things work for her family, she’s broke, she has nothing left to sell, and she has nowhere to go. She pressures Jeremiah into letting her take her husbands’ place in the mine, it didn’t go over well at first but she eventually gets her way.
Her son and daughter are livid with her taking on this new job that just recently killed their father, there’s a lot of turmoil in the family but before the mother could take on the new job, more people are killed in the mine, including Jeremiah’s son.
In the next town over, there’s a freed slave and a young boy who are vampire hunters. They are tracking down leads about potential vampires in cities across the US, killing them, and sending back their fangs for money. Most people in the world don’t realize that there are vampires and great wolves and other monstrosities running amock in the west. People are easily suckered into being vampire thralls without realizing what’s going on, vampires can mess with your mind and put you in a trance-like state.
When the freed slave and the boy kill a vampire in the next town over they piss off a vampire knight, who comes to kill them because they killed his wife he’s had since the Roman Empire.
These two storylines come together about halfway through the book, and it makes for an interesting and bloody tale about vampires. No sparkles here, these vampires will rip peoples throats out so you can see the backbone.
Final Score: 11/15
Characters:
There are many different characters in this book, and there isn’t a clear main character, you follow around a bunch of different characters in equal parts.
Mrs Miller is the widow of the original murder in the mine, she’s a tough person who’s trying her best but doesn’t always know what to do. She’s bitter and she’s angry about basically everything. She was promised by her husband that things would get better when they moved out west because they’d score rich in an oil town, but they lived in poverty until he died, and things got worse from there. She’s bitter about how Jeremiah treated her husband, paying him pennies on the dollar just because he could. He even pro-rated her husbands last day of wages since he died halfway through the day.
Annie Miller is Mrs Millers daughter, she’s spunky and kind of difficult for her mother to deal with, she’s much more outspoken and angry about things than her brother is and she makes every conversation between her and her mother difficult. She’s also fairly independent and smart.
Ptolemy is the freed slave you meet about a third of the way through the book. He was owned by the young boy’s father until something happened to his father and he died. You don’t know what that is until the end though. He’s very smart, very calm, and very well spoken. He was taught how to read by the boy’s father because he enjoyed having poetry read to him. He’s very religious and finds good in all men because he considers all men to be in the image of God. He talks a lot about the bible and Satan and other Christian references throughout his portion of the book.
Carson is the boy Ptolemy travels with and is training how to hunt vampires. He seems to have a knack for it, they walk into a saloon looking for the vampire and Carson is able to pick her out right away since she was dancing for hours but had no sweat. He’s very attached to Ptolemy and considers him a father figure, calling him Pa. I think their relationship was my favorite thing about the book.
This was a very plot-driven book, since the POV’s jumped around so often, and since the book is so short, the characters were developed but I wouldn’t say they were the star of the show.
Final Score: 9/15
World Building:
Vampires in this world are the old school creepy vampires that are violent and malevolent. They can take on human form, but once they are injured and forced to reveal themselves they revert back to their true form – leathery skin, huge claws, and jaws that can unhinge like a snake.
There’s a lot of racism in this book as well, which, given this is just after the civil war isn’t surprising. Ptolemy has a lot of hardships he has to bare just to make it through each day. He’s not welcome in most establishments and has to pretend he’s a servant of the young boy and keep his distance while Carson does most of the talking.
It does appear as though the Christian religion is a reality in this book, with Satan and his monsters being real.
Old school “propriety” is in full effect, with women being oppressed and thought of as the dainty and weaker sex. One of the POV’s is a very old school kind of woman and believes that women should be demure, seen and not heard.
This is set out in the desert, it’s hot, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s hard to get by.
There’s mention of a Vampire King and I really wanted to see that, but maybe it will come in the next book.
There’s mention of a few secret orders of people, cults mostly, and I would have really liked to have seen more of that.
All in all, since this is a shorter book there’s not a lot of room for extensive world building if you want to have a decent plot – what was there I enjoyed.
Final Score: 11/15
Pacing:
This was a very fast paced book, there weren’t any meandering or ��unnecessary’ parts to the story. The ending kind of caught me by surprise though, I wanted to learn more about the secret orders and the vampire king but it ended before that could really be addressed.
Final Score: 12/15
Writing:
The writing was clean and there was a lot of southern accents to it. That usually bothers me, but it really worked with the world building and time period. This wasn’t an overly descriptive book, it read very quickly, I went through the whole book in one sitting.
Final Score: 12/15
Originality:
I don’t see a whole lot of wild west kind of books in fantasy, I’ve seen them here and there but I think it’s an underrepresented subgenre as far as I can tell. I liked the fact that these weren’t sparkly sexy vampires, and more tear your face off kind of vampires. There were a lot of Christian over tones which I don’t see very often either.
Final Score: 12/15
Personal Enjoyment:
I liked this book, but I really wanted more from it. I don’t read shorter stories all that much, I don’t know if this would qualify as a novella or not – but I wanted to see more of the secret cults, more of the vampire world, just more of everything really. I felt like I got a little teased and then the book was over. So, I did really like the book, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a bit longer – which is a good thing, it means what was there was done well.
Final Score: 6.5/10
Audience:
For people who prefer plot driven over character driven
For people who like a lot of blood and violence and vampires
For people who are looking for a western
For people who like multi pov
For people who like shorter stories
For people who like Christian over tones
Not for people who don’t like cursing
Warning: contains racial slurs
Final Score: 73.5/100
longer review to come.
----------------------------------------
Plot:
This book is set in Texas right after the civil war and Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, times are tough out in the west and people are scraping by trying to make ends meet. Yellow Hill is an oil/mining town that’s run by a genuine ass named Jeremiah Hart. He has the entire town on lockdown and threatens people who don’t see things his way or do as he says.
The opening scene is of a person who’s died in the mine from mysterious causes. The miners who witnessed what happened claimed they saw some kind of creature maul him, and that they shot at it but it got away. Jeremiah swears them to secrecy and forces them to take hammers to the body to make it look like he died in a cave in, and not some kind of predator.
The widow of the man who died is trying to make things work for her family, she’s broke, she has nothing left to sell, and she has nowhere to go. She pressures Jeremiah into letting her take her husbands’ place in the mine, it didn’t go over well at first but she eventually gets her way.
Her son and daughter are livid with her taking on this new job that just recently killed their father, there’s a lot of turmoil in the family but before the mother could take on the new job, more people are killed in the mine, including Jeremiah’s son.
In the next town over, there’s a freed slave and a young boy who are vampire hunters. They are tracking down leads about potential vampires in cities across the US, killing them, and sending back their fangs for money. Most people in the world don’t realize that there are vampires and great wolves and other monstrosities running amock in the west. People are easily suckered into being vampire thralls without realizing what’s going on, vampires can mess with your mind and put you in a trance-like state.
When the freed slave and the boy kill a vampire in the next town over they piss off a vampire knight, who comes to kill them because they killed his wife he’s had since the Roman Empire.
These two storylines come together about halfway through the book, and it makes for an interesting and bloody tale about vampires. No sparkles here, these vampires will rip peoples throats out so you can see the backbone.
Final Score: 11/15
Characters:
There are many different characters in this book, and there isn’t a clear main character, you follow around a bunch of different characters in equal parts.
Mrs Miller is the widow of the original murder in the mine, she’s a tough person who’s trying her best but doesn’t always know what to do. She’s bitter and she’s angry about basically everything. She was promised by her husband that things would get better when they moved out west because they’d score rich in an oil town, but they lived in poverty until he died, and things got worse from there. She’s bitter about how Jeremiah treated her husband, paying him pennies on the dollar just because he could. He even pro-rated her husbands last day of wages since he died halfway through the day.
Annie Miller is Mrs Millers daughter, she’s spunky and kind of difficult for her mother to deal with, she’s much more outspoken and angry about things than her brother is and she makes every conversation between her and her mother difficult. She’s also fairly independent and smart.
Ptolemy is the freed slave you meet about a third of the way through the book. He was owned by the young boy’s father until something happened to his father and he died. You don’t know what that is until the end though. He’s very smart, very calm, and very well spoken. He was taught how to read by the boy’s father because he enjoyed having poetry read to him. He’s very religious and finds good in all men because he considers all men to be in the image of God. He talks a lot about the bible and Satan and other Christian references throughout his portion of the book.
Carson is the boy Ptolemy travels with and is training how to hunt vampires. He seems to have a knack for it, they walk into a saloon looking for the vampire and Carson is able to pick her out right away since she was dancing for hours but had no sweat. He’s very attached to Ptolemy and considers him a father figure, calling him Pa. I think their relationship was my favorite thing about the book.
This was a very plot-driven book, since the POV’s jumped around so often, and since the book is so short, the characters were developed but I wouldn’t say they were the star of the show.
Final Score: 9/15
World Building:
Vampires in this world are the old school creepy vampires that are violent and malevolent. They can take on human form, but once they are injured and forced to reveal themselves they revert back to their true form – leathery skin, huge claws, and jaws that can unhinge like a snake.
There’s a lot of racism in this book as well, which, given this is just after the civil war isn’t surprising. Ptolemy has a lot of hardships he has to bare just to make it through each day. He’s not welcome in most establishments and has to pretend he’s a servant of the young boy and keep his distance while Carson does most of the talking.
It does appear as though the Christian religion is a reality in this book, with Satan and his monsters being real.
Old school “propriety” is in full effect, with women being oppressed and thought of as the dainty and weaker sex. One of the POV’s is a very old school kind of woman and believes that women should be demure, seen and not heard.
This is set out in the desert, it’s hot, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s hard to get by.
There’s mention of a Vampire King and I really wanted to see that, but maybe it will come in the next book.
There’s mention of a few secret orders of people, cults mostly, and I would have really liked to have seen more of that.
All in all, since this is a shorter book there’s not a lot of room for extensive world building if you want to have a decent plot – what was there I enjoyed.
Final Score: 11/15
Pacing:
This was a very fast paced book, there weren’t any meandering or ��unnecessary’ parts to the story. The ending kind of caught me by surprise though, I wanted to learn more about the secret orders and the vampire king but it ended before that could really be addressed.
Final Score: 12/15
Writing:
The writing was clean and there was a lot of southern accents to it. That usually bothers me, but it really worked with the world building and time period. This wasn’t an overly descriptive book, it read very quickly, I went through the whole book in one sitting.
Final Score: 12/15
Originality:
I don’t see a whole lot of wild west kind of books in fantasy, I’ve seen them here and there but I think it’s an underrepresented subgenre as far as I can tell. I liked the fact that these weren’t sparkly sexy vampires, and more tear your face off kind of vampires. There were a lot of Christian over tones which I don’t see very often either.
Final Score: 12/15
Personal Enjoyment:
I liked this book, but I really wanted more from it. I don’t read shorter stories all that much, I don’t know if this would qualify as a novella or not – but I wanted to see more of the secret cults, more of the vampire world, just more of everything really. I felt like I got a little teased and then the book was over. So, I did really like the book, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a bit longer – which is a good thing, it means what was there was done well.
Final Score: 6.5/10
Audience:
For people who prefer plot driven over character driven
For people who like a lot of blood and violence and vampires
For people who are looking for a western
For people who like multi pov
For people who like shorter stories
For people who like Christian over tones
Not for people who don’t like cursing
Warning: contains racial slurs
Final Score: 73.5/100
April 4, 2023
Humble's The Massacre at Yellow is a fast-paced tale that blends horror and western well.
The characters are enjoyable and engaging, the settings are vivid and easy to imagine, and the horrors that loom over the towns of Yellow Hill and Big Spring keep you hooked to the very end.
I finished this book in one day and recommend it to anyone who's into westerns, vampires, and cosmic horror.
The characters are enjoyable and engaging, the settings are vivid and easy to imagine, and the horrors that loom over the towns of Yellow Hill and Big Spring keep you hooked to the very end.
I finished this book in one day and recommend it to anyone who's into westerns, vampires, and cosmic horror.
April 26, 2025
Characters who are real and beautiful. There were lines in this story that made my heart sing and took my breath away. Why the hell did I wait so long to read this book? Heading straight into the next one.
August 24, 2023
A pretty solid splatter western, packed with pulpy violence and an array of intriguing characters.
Humble has blended well the poverty-stricken western lifestyle vibes with actual life-threatening monster action.
Humble has blended well the poverty-stricken western lifestyle vibes with actual life-threatening monster action.
July 30, 2023
“Now I will attest what you’re gonna see is pretty shocking.”
I can’t say enough about this book but I really feel you need to go into this without knowing anything except it is about a bounty hunter that deals with the occult and it has some badass monsters.
The characters in here are wonderfully written. I care about them and that makes things difficult because life (and death) is far from easy in Yellow Hill.
The sheriff used the term “calculated anxiety” when he was talking about someone telling a story. I think that term describes Massacre perfectly. It made my heart race, melt, and run cold over and over again. I smiled, I laughed, I crumpled, and I shouted very loudly in my head at some of these characters. Mostly I am just glad that this is only book one of the That Light Sublime trilogy.
If you like connected universes then I am happy to tell you that this has a small (so far) connection to the Black Wells series, which I highly recommend. The first book, All These Subtle Deceits was one of my favorite books last year.
I can’t say enough about this book but I really feel you need to go into this without knowing anything except it is about a bounty hunter that deals with the occult and it has some badass monsters.
The characters in here are wonderfully written. I care about them and that makes things difficult because life (and death) is far from easy in Yellow Hill.
The sheriff used the term “calculated anxiety” when he was talking about someone telling a story. I think that term describes Massacre perfectly. It made my heart race, melt, and run cold over and over again. I smiled, I laughed, I crumpled, and I shouted very loudly in my head at some of these characters. Mostly I am just glad that this is only book one of the That Light Sublime trilogy.
If you like connected universes then I am happy to tell you that this has a small (so far) connection to the Black Wells series, which I highly recommend. The first book, All These Subtle Deceits was one of my favorite books last year.
April 24, 2025
I have read from this author twice before and both times have been 5 star reads. However, I was on the fence with this one. I love vampires and historical horror, but the western setting had me questioning if I'd like it or not.
I loved it. Humble has a way with characters that really makes you feel their relationship is genuine. You love the characters and want them to be okay. I loved the relationship between Ptolemy and his son. I also loved their backstory.
I appreciate how racism was handled as well. It was present (accurate for the time period) in other characters but handled delicately by the author, which I respect and proves it can be done.
Probably my only negative was that I wish it'd been longer. I would've loved to see more in the third part. I feel the last quarter of the book was a tad rushed. The first two parts were great!
Possibly spoilerish but I'll be vague...skip ahead to next paragraph...And there's something that didn't come up again that I'm just hoping will reappear in a later book in the series.
This is another 5 star read for me and currently my favorite book this year so far. I can't wait to pick up the next one and see where our characters go next. Probably now solidified as an auto-buy author for me.
Dangit, Humble, why you gotta make me cry?! I do not cry. Ever.
I loved it. Humble has a way with characters that really makes you feel their relationship is genuine. You love the characters and want them to be okay. I loved the relationship between Ptolemy and his son. I also loved their backstory.
I appreciate how racism was handled as well. It was present (accurate for the time period) in other characters but handled delicately by the author, which I respect and proves it can be done.
Probably my only negative was that I wish it'd been longer. I would've loved to see more in the third part. I feel the last quarter of the book was a tad rushed. The first two parts were great!
Possibly spoilerish but I'll be vague...skip ahead to next paragraph...And there's something that didn't come up again that I'm just hoping will reappear in a later book in the series.
This is another 5 star read for me and currently my favorite book this year so far. I can't wait to pick up the next one and see where our characters go next. Probably now solidified as an auto-buy author for me.
Dangit, Humble, why you gotta make me cry?! I do not cry. Ever.
Read
April 10, 2023N.B. I do not rate on Goodreads.
Over the last few months horror Westerns have come on to my radar—Joe Lansdale and Coy Hall for example, and I’ve really enjoyed them, so much so that it reignited a passion for watching some of the classic westerns that were part of my childhood. Hence when the opportunity came along to read an ARC of C.S. Humble’s The Massacre at Yellow Hill I jumped at it.
The first in a trilogy, this novella sets the scene for what’s to come. However, that’s not all it does. It packs a punch all of its own and makes for a great read regardless of whether or not you intend to read the rest of the series.
Traits that stand out for me with regards to C.S. Humble’s work are the ease with which his prose flows. The journey is so smooth you don’t even notice it. Secondly, I find his dialogue totally authentic. I guess this in part is what makes the ride so smooth. I must also add that I consider him a master at character naming, and this novella proves it. He’s also great at creating unlikely partnerships between his characters that really work, my favourite in this instance being the relationship between Ptolemy and Carson. There’s so much depth and backstory to unravel here, you can literally feel the tension build and build to a crescendo of dread.
If you enjoy your horror weird and Western, but also full of heart, then this is the book for you.
P.S. Why not check out his Black Wells series published by Dark Hart books while you’re at it? I promise it’s every bit as haunting.
Over the last few months horror Westerns have come on to my radar—Joe Lansdale and Coy Hall for example, and I’ve really enjoyed them, so much so that it reignited a passion for watching some of the classic westerns that were part of my childhood. Hence when the opportunity came along to read an ARC of C.S. Humble’s The Massacre at Yellow Hill I jumped at it.
The first in a trilogy, this novella sets the scene for what’s to come. However, that’s not all it does. It packs a punch all of its own and makes for a great read regardless of whether or not you intend to read the rest of the series.
Traits that stand out for me with regards to C.S. Humble’s work are the ease with which his prose flows. The journey is so smooth you don’t even notice it. Secondly, I find his dialogue totally authentic. I guess this in part is what makes the ride so smooth. I must also add that I consider him a master at character naming, and this novella proves it. He’s also great at creating unlikely partnerships between his characters that really work, my favourite in this instance being the relationship between Ptolemy and Carson. There’s so much depth and backstory to unravel here, you can literally feel the tension build and build to a crescendo of dread.
If you enjoy your horror weird and Western, but also full of heart, then this is the book for you.
P.S. Why not check out his Black Wells series published by Dark Hart books while you’re at it? I promise it’s every bit as haunting.
May 1, 2023
This was amazing!! I love Carson so much!! C.S. Humble you got me again. Beautifully written, incredibly frightening and characters that are so easy to love. Such attention to detail and so much heart!!!
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May 13, 2023The Massacre at Yellow Hill is a beautifully written story about two different sets of people. First we have Tabitha and her two children who are dealing with the aftermath of her husbands death and trying to figure out how they’re going to survive, and then Ptolemy and his son Carson who are on the hunt for evil creatures who are literally tearing people apart. The two stories of these people come together as one as mayhem ensues and lives are changed forever.
C.S. Humble’s words at times are like poetry. He really helps you visualize the Texas setting and makes you feel like you’ve been transported back in time and are right there with the characters.
My reading experience was so enjoyable and I found myself slowing down because I didn’t want the book or my time with these characters to end. This is my first time reading a horror western book and I’m REALLY into this genre now. There are two more books in this series coming and I’m very much looking forward to reading them and seeing what happens next and where the characters go from here. I keep wondering how much time will have passed between this and the second one and how different are the characters going to be now after what they’ve experienced in Yellow Hill.
If, like me, you’ve never dived into the western part of horror, except for King’s The Dark Tower, read this! The story and characters really stay with you and you’ll think of them long after you’ve turned the last page. I can’t wait to see what the next chapter in this series holds.
C.S. Humble’s words at times are like poetry. He really helps you visualize the Texas setting and makes you feel like you’ve been transported back in time and are right there with the characters.
My reading experience was so enjoyable and I found myself slowing down because I didn’t want the book or my time with these characters to end. This is my first time reading a horror western book and I’m REALLY into this genre now. There are two more books in this series coming and I’m very much looking forward to reading them and seeing what happens next and where the characters go from here. I keep wondering how much time will have passed between this and the second one and how different are the characters going to be now after what they’ve experienced in Yellow Hill.
If, like me, you’ve never dived into the western part of horror, except for King’s The Dark Tower, read this! The story and characters really stay with you and you’ll think of them long after you’ve turned the last page. I can’t wait to see what the next chapter in this series holds.
July 9, 2023
Even though Westerns are one of my favourite settings in media, I have never read one until now. When I saw this also included vampires I had to pick it up.
The writing was great, very easy to read and flowed nicely. But I do wish there was a little bit more environmental writing.
Even though this is very much plot-driven, there was enough time dedicated to the characters, whom I grew rather fond of. Gilbert's and Carson's relationship was great, and they were honestly quite the dynamic duo. The Miller family and their story progression were also rather touching. The vampires being gruesome, terrible creatures was a welcome change from the typically glamorous, sexualised ones. The author did not hold back on the gore and violence that's for sure.
I think I would've liked more vampire encounters, as I feel we got to the ending rather quickly. Though maybe it's a good thing there wasn't, else it might've become repetitive.
Overall an enjoyable read that will definitely have me reading the sequel when its out, and seeking out other Westerns.
The writing was great, very easy to read and flowed nicely. But I do wish there was a little bit more environmental writing.
Even though this is very much plot-driven, there was enough time dedicated to the characters, whom I grew rather fond of. Gilbert's and Carson's relationship was great, and they were honestly quite the dynamic duo. The Miller family and their story progression were also rather touching. The vampires being gruesome, terrible creatures was a welcome change from the typically glamorous, sexualised ones. The author did not hold back on the gore and violence that's for sure.
I think I would've liked more vampire encounters, as I feel we got to the ending rather quickly. Though maybe it's a good thing there wasn't, else it might've become repetitive.
Overall an enjoyable read that will definitely have me reading the sequel when its out, and seeking out other Westerns.
December 27, 2023
I’ll start by saying that this book is the furthest I’ve stepped outside of my typical genres. Great imagery and I was kept interested the entire time. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
July 21, 2023
Fear is alive in the West
Holy shit. This is my first book by Humble that I’ve read and I can’t wait to dig into more. I never knew I needed a horror western this bad, but it filled an unknown void.
Holy shit. This is my first book by Humble that I’ve read and I can’t wait to dig into more. I never knew I needed a horror western this bad, but it filled an unknown void.
February 20, 2024
Fast-paced and surprisingly heartfelt Weird West/vampire fiction. If you got a special feelz for adopted dad/loving son tropes, yeesh, gird yourself.
November 10, 2023
If this is only the first book, the rest of this trilogy will end with tears, cheers and leers...for years! The Massacre at Yellow Hill is the first of C.S. Humble's That Light Sublime Trilogy and what a tour de force it was. This is a harbinger of the horrors to haunt your halls.
In this novel, we follow two main sets of characters:
- Tabitha Miller, widow of George Miller (who dies in a mining "accident" that has a far more sinister origin to it); Annie, their daughter; and Georgie, their son.
- Gilbert Ptolemy, former slave turned bounty hunter who tracks down and destroys supernatural monstrosities; Carson Watts, the adopted son who has a bond with Ptolemy after his biological father taught them both everything they needed to know about the supernatural/Eldritch horrors that pervade in this storyline.
Part one is focused on depicting the aftermath of George's death in the mine and Tabitha's maternal instinct to keep herself and the kids alive. She is a dynamo woman who takes no guff from any man. Strong-willed and a positive feminine force (even if her methods may not always reflect such). The rest of the first part is spent world-building in Yellow Hill, Texas, including introducing us to the baron who has a stranglehold on the town: Jeremiah Hart. He has a far deeper connection to the ensuing destruction and death.
Part two turns the reins over to Ptolemy and Carson, which begins with a fairly humorous exchange between the two men and a woman who observes them coming to Big Spring (a neighboring town). Their source has led them here to conduct business of a certain nature: eliminating a vampire that has set up base as a bar wench in the local watering hole. After a brief, yet action-packed scene, Ptolemy and Carson accomplish their mission. Soon after, the duo crosses paths with Sigurd, a vampire from the same clan as the bar wench. He causes some damage to some of the townsfolk and our duo before escaping, confident he will meet them again to finish the job. They then learn there are far greater forces at work (in Yellow Hill) in a way that is relevant to their modus operandi, so they travel onward to face what lurks there.
Part three intertwines both narratives into a harrowing, brutal and tragic set of events. More plot development is introduced and even a set-up for the sequel occurs here. No spoilers... But, there is a secret order called The Prometheus Society that is the root cause for all of the horrors.
This novel was a fun, quick read and a (literally) explosive way to kick off what could be considered the one of the coolest Weird/Horror Western stories in our modern age of horror. You'll laugh, cry, feel anger and even cheer for the father/son vampire killers within the pages of this book.
I'm giving this one ☠️x5!!!
In this novel, we follow two main sets of characters:
- Tabitha Miller, widow of George Miller (who dies in a mining "accident" that has a far more sinister origin to it); Annie, their daughter; and Georgie, their son.
- Gilbert Ptolemy, former slave turned bounty hunter who tracks down and destroys supernatural monstrosities; Carson Watts, the adopted son who has a bond with Ptolemy after his biological father taught them both everything they needed to know about the supernatural/Eldritch horrors that pervade in this storyline.
Part one is focused on depicting the aftermath of George's death in the mine and Tabitha's maternal instinct to keep herself and the kids alive. She is a dynamo woman who takes no guff from any man. Strong-willed and a positive feminine force (even if her methods may not always reflect such). The rest of the first part is spent world-building in Yellow Hill, Texas, including introducing us to the baron who has a stranglehold on the town: Jeremiah Hart. He has a far deeper connection to the ensuing destruction and death.
Part two turns the reins over to Ptolemy and Carson, which begins with a fairly humorous exchange between the two men and a woman who observes them coming to Big Spring (a neighboring town). Their source has led them here to conduct business of a certain nature: eliminating a vampire that has set up base as a bar wench in the local watering hole. After a brief, yet action-packed scene, Ptolemy and Carson accomplish their mission. Soon after, the duo crosses paths with Sigurd, a vampire from the same clan as the bar wench. He causes some damage to some of the townsfolk and our duo before escaping, confident he will meet them again to finish the job. They then learn there are far greater forces at work (in Yellow Hill) in a way that is relevant to their modus operandi, so they travel onward to face what lurks there.
Part three intertwines both narratives into a harrowing, brutal and tragic set of events. More plot development is introduced and even a set-up for the sequel occurs here. No spoilers... But, there is a secret order called The Prometheus Society that is the root cause for all of the horrors.
This novel was a fun, quick read and a (literally) explosive way to kick off what could be considered the one of the coolest Weird/Horror Western stories in our modern age of horror. You'll laugh, cry, feel anger and even cheer for the father/son vampire killers within the pages of this book.
I'm giving this one ☠️x5!!!
April 8, 2023
"While her children slept, Tabitha Miller considered fate and time, dark monsters, and the sham of providence." (Chapter Twenty-Five, The Massacre at Yellow Hill)
I read this book in two sittings, and I am not someone with a lot of time for uninterrupted reading. But books come along now and then that make me insist on making that kind of time, and this is one of them: self-propelled, contemplative without ever feeling bogged down, and punctuated by scenes of abject terror. (See also: This Thing Between Us, by Gus Moreno; and Children of Chicago, by Cynthia Pelayo)
The Massacre at Yellow Hill conjoins and carves holes in two prominent American mythologies: the blank canvas of the West for America's post-Civil War do-0ver as a unified force for good, and Lovecraft's articulation of our collective fears about what lurks underneath land possessed by violence and corruption. If those myths weren't enough to question in the span of one 'coming-of-age, supernatural horror western' (author's words), there are VERY stark moments about how we're tricked by other mythologies into dying for jobs and bosses who don't care about us whatsoever.
Maybe the most impressive aspect of all this mythology-questioning? It stays relatively subtle under a meticulously constructed and completely compelling narrative about a widow and her kids, some miners, a rich creep and his also-creepy scion, a far more ironically normal father and son with a hell of a legacy gig, a few vividly vicious monsters, and a very scary hole in the ground. This book is every bit as frightening as it is smart.
A couple of other notes: I read an advance copy of the updated edition, which includes an author's note about removing previous use of slurs as character development. Appreciated. And on that note, anytime an author depicts non-white characters experiencing racism in America, much LIKE America, we're on ground fraught with challenges. Every book that attempts an examination like this will be imperfect at best, and Yellow Hill is no exception. But it introduces characters and a larger story I look forward to continuing. (Next book in the series will be out this July, after this one sees a re-release later this month.)
I read this book in two sittings, and I am not someone with a lot of time for uninterrupted reading. But books come along now and then that make me insist on making that kind of time, and this is one of them: self-propelled, contemplative without ever feeling bogged down, and punctuated by scenes of abject terror. (See also: This Thing Between Us, by Gus Moreno; and Children of Chicago, by Cynthia Pelayo)
The Massacre at Yellow Hill conjoins and carves holes in two prominent American mythologies: the blank canvas of the West for America's post-Civil War do-0ver as a unified force for good, and Lovecraft's articulation of our collective fears about what lurks underneath land possessed by violence and corruption. If those myths weren't enough to question in the span of one 'coming-of-age, supernatural horror western' (author's words), there are VERY stark moments about how we're tricked by other mythologies into dying for jobs and bosses who don't care about us whatsoever.
Maybe the most impressive aspect of all this mythology-questioning? It stays relatively subtle under a meticulously constructed and completely compelling narrative about a widow and her kids, some miners, a rich creep and his also-creepy scion, a far more ironically normal father and son with a hell of a legacy gig, a few vividly vicious monsters, and a very scary hole in the ground. This book is every bit as frightening as it is smart.
A couple of other notes: I read an advance copy of the updated edition, which includes an author's note about removing previous use of slurs as character development. Appreciated. And on that note, anytime an author depicts non-white characters experiencing racism in America, much LIKE America, we're on ground fraught with challenges. Every book that attempts an examination like this will be imperfect at best, and Yellow Hill is no exception. But it introduces characters and a larger story I look forward to continuing. (Next book in the series will be out this July, after this one sees a re-release later this month.)
July 3, 2018
Great beginning...
...to what I hope will be a many book series.
It's a great start, giving you just enough depth of characters to get attached and make you want to find out what happens to them next. I don't give spoilers, but I think it's safe to say there's a bit of monster hunting, a bit of archaeological mystery, a bit of gore, bad things happening to good people; all this set against a historical western backdrop that really sucks you in and allows an escape from reality. Wish it was longer, it was a quick read, but as this is the author's first, he's most certainly excused... as long as he's planning a sequel. 😉
...to what I hope will be a many book series.
It's a great start, giving you just enough depth of characters to get attached and make you want to find out what happens to them next. I don't give spoilers, but I think it's safe to say there's a bit of monster hunting, a bit of archaeological mystery, a bit of gore, bad things happening to good people; all this set against a historical western backdrop that really sucks you in and allows an escape from reality. Wish it was longer, it was a quick read, but as this is the author's first, he's most certainly excused... as long as he's planning a sequel. 😉
April 24, 2022
I can’t remember the last time I read a western genre novel but this combination of Western + Horror blew me away! The plot is fast paced & hooks you in right away. The creatures are …I have no words… epic!
But in all honesty, what makes this book addicting ( I literally didn’t want to leave this world or Carson) are all the characters and their journeys. The connections are not rushed but form organically. It is heartwarming to watch it all unfold and you feel invested in their happiness! As you turn the last page it feels like a beginning of something and I for one am so happy about that …. 🤠🥹❤️❤️
But in all honesty, what makes this book addicting ( I literally didn’t want to leave this world or Carson) are all the characters and their journeys. The connections are not rushed but form organically. It is heartwarming to watch it all unfold and you feel invested in their happiness! As you turn the last page it feels like a beginning of something and I for one am so happy about that …. 🤠🥹❤️❤️
July 6, 2018
Oh DAMN. I forget where I first heard of this book -- I think Reddit, maybe? -- and while the introduction to the fairly substantial cast of characters began a little clunky, the story very quickly found its voice and revved up into something downright creepy and delightful. I'm not one for long reviews, so I'll just say that this combines several of my favorite things in ways that still easily feel refreshing and new. It's a good, quick read that left me hoping for sequels, and I would highly recommend it.
June 22, 2025
EVERY. SINGLE. STAR. omg this story is beautiful. It’s compelling. I loved the characters. Western horror done so well it’s hard to find the words to convey that. Marrying horrific events with such emotional depth seems easy for Seth and I am so damn excited this is a whole series. Do yourself a favor and order these books. Yellow Hill is book one from That Light Sublime Trilogy and also book one of the six part series Amid The Vastness of All Else. The first trilogy releases June 24th from Shortwave Books. Thank you Seth for sending me the whole series. You made me care about westerns.
June 26, 2025
WOW! I’m kicking myself for taking this long to get around to reading this because I absolutely loved this book. I loved the characters, the prose was beautiful, the plot whip sharp. This book hooked me and didn’t let me go from the time I started it until I finished it. I am so excited to read the rest of the books in this series.
Seriously, don’t sleep on The Massacre at Yellow Hill. It’s great.
Seriously, don’t sleep on The Massacre at Yellow Hill. It’s great.
January 9, 2024
Well holy crap. Loved the economical writing, at turns blunt and efficient, then interspersed with heart rending poetry. Gnarly action. This series is gonna be great.
Was having a hard time finding my next read (following another fun Murderbot) but knew after the first couple pages that this was just what I was looking for.
Was having a hard time finding my next read (following another fun Murderbot) but knew after the first couple pages that this was just what I was looking for.
July 19, 2025
A great start to the That Light Sublime trilogy! What surprised me most about The Massacre at Yellow Hill was the depth and complexity of the characters. I must admit, I was very surprised about the resolution of certain character arcs by the end of the book. I look forward to starting the next volume soon!
January 25, 2019
3.5 Stars for a bloody romp through Yellow Hill. This was so pulpy my eyes almost stuck together. A fun, exciting read.
August 15, 2023
4.5⭐️ super fun splatter western with supernatural, cosmic, & occult elements. Looking forward to checking out the rest of the trilogy!
Longer review on my channel: https://youtu.be/pGSxmXfwZTA
Longer review on my channel: https://youtu.be/pGSxmXfwZTA
August 15, 2024
This is a what a character- driven story that still keeps you on the edge of seat is like! 😻 supernatural horror western? Check. Strong father figure that takes an orphan under his wing and they kick ass together? Check. Grieving mother turned bad ass? Check. Horrifying cult obsessed with all things occult & trying to take over the world? Check. We spend just enough time with our characters that we worry about them, while still having suspenseful moments driving the plot forward. We have perfectly timed back stories that help weave together the pieces of the world the author drops us into. Just enough detail to really paint that picture in our mind without over doing it. Our main character, Ptolemy, has some quotes in there that made me just melt!!! Marry me, Ptolemy!! Man, my reviews may be hyperbolic, but I just really love a strong story that’s character- driven that also has some fckd up sht in it. Vampires, creepy monsters, gore, cowboys 😻 I mean cmon. That ending wraps it up while still leaving you wanting more. 💕
April 28, 2023
I loved this book. It was a western - very McMurtry - but with vampires and other supernatural beings. It was well written, well paced and super fun.
It is book one of a series and it felt that way as there were several open story-lines when the novel ended, but I am excited to keep reading about these characters.
The scene in Chapter 6 with the kids on the candy story is one of the best scenes I have ever read. It was perfection.
I also loved the sinister secret group looking to bring darkness to the world. It was just fun.
This is at its heart a horror story, and had moments of real tenseness. But, it is also really fun.
At times it reminded me of The Gunslinger and Lonesome Dove.
It is book one of a series and it felt that way as there were several open story-lines when the novel ended, but I am excited to keep reading about these characters.
The scene in Chapter 6 with the kids on the candy story is one of the best scenes I have ever read. It was perfection.
I also loved the sinister secret group looking to bring darkness to the world. It was just fun.
This is at its heart a horror story, and had moments of real tenseness. But, it is also really fun.
At times it reminded me of The Gunslinger and Lonesome Dove.
July 10, 2025
This is the Wild West meets Cosmic Horror. Cormac McCarthy meets HP Lovecraft.
A great novella, fast paced, promising a wider world that you want to explore.
I was deeply invested in the character relationships, especially the father-son pair of Ptolemy and Carson.
A very promising series, the 1st book of which has lived up to the hype.
A great novella, fast paced, promising a wider world that you want to explore.
I was deeply invested in the character relationships, especially the father-son pair of Ptolemy and Carson.
A very promising series, the 1st book of which has lived up to the hype.
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