Vulpine Curse

by Katherine Silva

In the aftermath of a dystopian drought, a widow ruthlessly fights against the final stages of grief by killing the unlucky souls left behind.

Genres: Horror

Paperback

Published April 30, 2025

About the author

Katherine Silva is an ace Maine horror author, a connoisseur of coffee, and victim of cat shenanigans. Her favorite flavors of the genre mix grief and existentialism which she combines with her love of the New England wilderness in her works. She is a three-time Maine Literary Award finalist for speculative fiction. Katherine is also editor-in-chief of Strange Wilds Press. You can find out all about her work at katherinesilvaauthor.com.

For event booking or questions, please email Katherine at kasilva@katherinesilvaauthor.com

Reviews

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I don't know what else to say. This book is brilliant. One of my favorites of the year.

[Danielle Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vulpine Curse
By Katherine Silva

“release.
it's exhilarating.
like flying.
every darkness
every cascading wave
or thought
of pain
of love
of death is flowing from him away
and…
just like that, it’s over”

Welp, this book ruined me. And I mean that as a compliment. It was incredible. Silva submerges the reader into a dystopian hellscape where the stages of grief are met by a man who lost his husband and his stranded daughter. It takes on the topics of grief, loss and survival. And at times it’s brutal. There’s a lot of bloodshed in this one.

Vulpine Curse was absolutely brilliant and has a core message that YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN. EVER. The representation in the story is top tier and tackles current issues in the world we live in.

It’s going to be a tough read for some. I sobbed. A lot. But I highly recommend this book. I was engulfed from the very first page.

[Joe Stout · Rating 4 out of 5]

VULPINE CURSE
by Katherine Silva

VULPINE CURSE is the Deadlands prequel I didn't know I needed!

Set in the time before the Deadlands trilogy, VULPINE CURSE provides needed backstory for the relationship between Hugh and Amos, and shows how events progressed to the world we find in UNDEAD FOLK. It focuses on the events around Amos's decline and Hugh's work for Steele.

Silva's strong, heavy prose carries a brilliant story. This is literary horror that pulls no punches and makes the reader endure the same emotions as the characters.

One thing I will say is that I don't feel that it succeeds as a stand-alone work. If you haven't read the Deadlands trilogy, there may be some spots that don't make a lot of sense or don't hit with the emotional impact Silva is going for.

Overall, this is a great book, and I highly recommend you check it out—after you read the original Deadlands trilogy (UNDEAD FOLK, DEAD FOLK, and NEVERLAND).

[Sophie Ingley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another chance to walk the Deadlands?
Ooh, yes please.
I just can’t get enough of this series, even though I’m oft left sobbing tears onto my Kindle.
Brutal, beautiful, and brilliant as ever.
I want more, as always.

[Marinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It’s worse out here than I ever imagined…”

Vulpine Curse thrusts you into a dark and brutal post-apocalyptic world, where we meet Hugh—a widower coerced into working as a hitman for a ruthless loan shark. His duties take him to a mysterious town named Mal Verdugo. Although Hugh tries to maintain a tough exterior, he cannot escape the constant pain of personal loss, nor the dread of the vicious, decaying world around him.

Vulpine Curse is primarily a tale of grief, pain, and survival. Silva does an excellent job of portraying the liminality of grief and the irreparable ways in which loss can reshape a person.

This book may be a bit too raw for those who have recently experienced loss, or for more sensitive readers. However, it paints a vivid picture of sorrow, decay, melancholy, and longing—elements that readers who appreciate emotionally dark stories will find compelling. Moreover, Silva crafts a hauntingly captivating post-apocalyptic America that fans of dystopian fiction are sure to enjoy.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Maritza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this was an enjoyable read that explores, grief and survival in a post apocalyptic world.

I found myself losing interest in Hugh’s story at times, and completely engrossed at others. I can’t point out exactly why I couldn’t bond with Hugh, and I think it’s because I really wanted more from Ella and Amos (since I knew them from Undead Folk). I know this is Hugh’s story, though…

I recommend this to those who enjoy dystopian stories starring morally grey characters with grief, violence, and survival. Silva has beautiful prose and I will continue reading her work. If you haven’t already, definitely read Undead Folk (which is my fav by her so far).
Thank you to the author for an e-arc of Vulpine Curse.

[Jacy Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was totally jazzed to return tot he world of Deadlands. Vulpine Curse didn't disappoint. The writing is smooth, the characters pop, and some of the mysteries of the universe are unfolded for us. Hugh is a fascinating character, and I love his moral ambivalence and internal struggle. Silva is at the top of her game here, and she has crafted a wonderful apocalyptic world... that still probably has some ground to explore. Would read another Deadlands book, for sure.

[Jeremiah Paddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a nightmarish vision that will absolutely overwhelm you. Dreamily horrific, it follows our protagonist, Hugh, through a time skipping horrorshow of brutal violence and heartbreaking loss. Silva does a wildly effective job of writing grief and pain. I found Vulpine Curse to be a quick but captivating read. It grabs you and leavesyou wrung out by the end.

[Kevin Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

We return to Nothingland, this time to see Hugh's story.

It's a dreary dystopian wasteland and it's definitely not pleasant.

This novella cuts away all the fat and gristle and leaves nothing but the tough dry meat for you to choke on.

It left me gutted and drained and slightly hurt.

Definitely recommend.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

The setting (gritty distopian wasteland) and inciting incident (a missing child) had me intrigued from the start. Parts of the book I enjoyed were dreamlike. The "Before" chapters threw me, since I don't often get a chance to read a book straight through. The brain works in strange ways! Grief cuts deep on this one.

[Scott Moses · Rating 4 out of 5]

So happy to have been able to return to this world. Silva weaves grief with grace in her signature way, and the world is better for it all with the intentional lack of explanation. I still need to read Nothingland, but I highly recommend this series.