I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Two women in the aftermath of the Civil War must protect a small Western town and help defend the town’s citizens from malicious marauders, only to discover a much darker secret in author Zachary Rosenberg’s “Hunger as Old as This Land.”
The Synopsis
The settlement of Grey’s Bluffs is a prosperous town. An independent community dwelling in the shadows of the mountains known only as The Hungers.
Esther Foxman and Siobhan O’Clery have grown up in Grey’s Bluffs, thriving out on the western territories in the aftermath of the Civil War. Devoted to one another and their home, the two set out to complete a regular pact at the Hungers to ensure that Grey’s Bluffs continues to prosper.
Cyril Redstone is a man who knows death well. Becoming a mercenary after the Civil War, Cyril leads the marauding Blackhawks from one slaughter to the next. Hired to destroy Grey’s Bluffs, Cyril cares little for morality, nor that he owes its founder his life.
Esther and Siobhan are left to defend the only home they have ever known from the Blackhawks, their confrontation driving them deep into the mountains.
Where the darkest secrets of the Hungers await them.
The Review
This was an absolutely compelling and gripping Western horror novel. The emphasis the author put on getting the detail surrounding the setting and western-themed atmosphere to sound just right when moving through the narrative was astounding, and the bone-chilling tension that the story built when The Hungers arrived to show their terror to the characters made this a compelling horror read.
Yet to me, the heart of this narrative rested in the author’s ability to find a natural and heartfelt way of finding inclusivity in the narrative through characters that represented people of the LGBTQ+, Jewish, and Native American people. The protagonist embodied all of these backgrounds, and her strength and resiliency when balanced with the heart and compassion in her heart made for a moving story, which helped elevate the horror and the gritty nature of the setting immensely.
The Verdict
Memorable, thoughtful, and chilling, author Zachary Rosenberg’s “Hungers as Old as This Land” is a must-read Western horror novel that readers won’t be able to put down. The quick pacing and the rich world-building made this story feel alive on the page and kept me as a reader hanging off of the author’s every word. If this book is any indication, I think the author is set for a long career developing the next generation of great horror classics. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Zachary Rosenberg is a horror writer living in Florida. He crafts horrifying tales by night and by day he practices law, which is even more frightening. His forthcoming debut novella “Hungers as Old As This Land.” will be published by Brigids Gate press and his first novel “The Devils and the Deep Blue Sea” shall be published by Darklit Press. You may find his works released or forthcoming at Air and Nothingness Press, Dead Sea Press and Nosetouch Press.
https://linktr.ee/zachrosewriter
