This is going to be a DNF for me. The writing style is not keeping my interest and the book isn’t flowing for me.

Overall this was a good book. I'd give it 4 out 5 stars. It ties into the origin story (The legend of Sleepy Hollow by Irving) quite well. It has Brom and Kat and even Ichabod is around. It revolves around Brom and Kat's grandchild. It's a whirlwind of a story and at first I wasn't sure what I thought, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked the story. Plus, that cover is BOMB.

April Henry's retellings are just genius. I loved the twists she put on Sleepy Hollow in this one and can't wait to read more from her.

I’ve always enjoyed the story of Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman. I feel like it is a story that most people know, but it is not really fully fleshed out unless you’ve read or watched certain things about it. Christina Henry’s Horseman: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow, attempts to create a narrative that adds a unique perspective, but also helps to add onto the scarce folklore and mythos surrounding the Headless Horseman.

When I think of the Headless Horseman, there are two things that come to mind. A cartoon version I watched as a kid, with the school teacher, Ichabod Crane, getting chased by the headless horseman with a covered bridge that is important for some reason. I do not remember there being much of a plot in that version. Next is the movie with Johnny Depp, Christopher Walken, and Christina Ricci. It’s definitely a very different version that went more into the lore behind the headless horseman, but I’m not sure how true it is to the original story. Regardless, this was all I was working with when I began reading Henry’s version of the story.

Henry’s Horseman gives a different perspective to the story of the Headless Horseman, happening decades after the events of Ichabod Crane and Bram Bones. When there are dead bodies of children found without heads, the legend of the Horseman begins to rear its ugly head in Sleepy Hollow. While the town does not fully believe in the legend as Bram himself insists it was all a rumor and gossip, the town starts to reconsider what they thought they knew about their town.

Ben is the grandchild of Bram Bones, struggling to live up to and almost replace Bram and Katrina’s only child also named Ben, our narrator’s father who died when Ben was a young child. As a result of trying to live up to being Bram’s son Ben, Ben, our narrator, refuses to live as the girl that he was biologically born as, much to the chagrin of his grandmother, Katrina. This aspect of identity struggle for Ben was an interesting addition to this story, increasing the complexity of this family and their life.

Ben’s family always kept the stories of the Horseman a secret, never discussing it with Ben, even though his grandfather was a major player in this legend. This secrecy extends beyond to the circumstances of his parent’s death, as the stories he has heard do not add up. As you continue reading, you learn that not only are the legends not necessarily correct, but Henry definitely throws the reader for a loop introducing another more evil supernatural force into the mix.

Henry’s Horseman becomes more than just a scary story about the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow. Instead, it becomes more of a story about family and identity. Ben’s family addresses dark pasts and regrets as well as acceptance of identity and individual choice.

I would not consider Horseman to be a retelling of the story of Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman, but instead an additional story of the subsequent events of the Horseman with a different interpretation of the traditional events, decades later. Regardless, I found this an interesting story in this Sleepy Hollow universe with a very compelling narrator.

I vividly remember an elementary school writing assignment. It was Halloween and we watched Disney’s interpretation of Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. We were then tasked with extending the ambiguous ending of the story. I don’t remember what I wrote, but the story has stayed with me my entire life. For all its autumnal spookiness, this story has always captured my imagination.

Christina Henry’s re-imagining of The Sleepy Hollow Legend is a fantastically layered tale that expertly melds tenderness with the horrific.

Bente “Ben” Van Brunt is the inquisitive, adventurous grandchild of Abraham “Brom Bones” Van Brunt and Katrina Van Tassel. Though born a girl, Ben is a boy to his core. He longs to be just like his larger-than-life Opa Brom. He dismisses Oma Katrina’s relentless attempts to steer Ben into thoroughly feminine pursuits in preparation for domestic wedded bliss: “ ‘How many times have I told you?’ she said, coming out on the porch and grabbing my ear. ‘You are not a boy, Bente, you are a girl, and it’s high time you started acting like one.’ I said nothing, only glared at her. I hated it when Katrina told me this one thing, the one thing that I never wanted to hear.” At 14, Ben is positive he’s a boy, he’s never marrying, and there is magic in Sleepy Hollow. He still carries the wonderment of childhood, but realizes he’s on the cusp of irrevocable experience.

When a boy’s mutilated body is discovered in the woods, belief in the fabled Horseman, and other paranormal beings, is renewed:
But the woods near Sleepy Hollow were not the same as other woods.

There were places deep and dark that no one dared go. No one dared go there because it was known that those places were the haunts of creatures not of this earth. To go there was to invite their notice, and these were not things that you wanted to notice you.
Tenacious and fearless, Ben sets out to uncover the truth and begins to uncover deeply buried town and family secrets. Ben is sure the horseman is real, but more nuanced than a basic villain: “he was all that was beautiful and terrible in the world and I wanted to be beautiful and terrible, too.” Ben’s investigation mirrors his own self-discovery, loss of innocence, and ultimate transformation.

Horseman is a beautifully heartbreaking read. Henry expertly fleshes out the original characters and seamlessly integrates new ones. The inclusion of a trans main grants the tale a fresh, original perspective readers will appreciate. The elements of horror are written with a whimsical sensuality. Horseman is the perfect fall read and will hauntingly echo with readers long after the final page.

i think this is a good example of slowly paced but in a way that makes me want to keep reading. i love how Henry takes such a well-known story and adds depth and warmth to it. i enjoyed it immensely and even cried lol.

“Everyone in Sleepy Hollow knows about the Horseman, but no one really believes in him.”

A retelling or re-imagining of, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It's amazing how Henry can take classic storytelling (Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Red Riding Hood) and update the tropes to please a modern audience. Fresh twists, punchy beats, and interesting, dynamic characters.
Horseman immerses readers in Sleepy Hollow 30 or so years after the disappearance of Ichabod Crane. Katrina and Brom have a grandchild named, Ben Van Brunt. Ben loves to play spooky games in the deep, dark, woods but encounters the body of a headless boy.
This is a page-turning, coming-of-age murder mystery full of surprises and wonder, honestly, I enjoyed this more than the source material.

Read this one a while back and did not review right away but will be recommending to all of my customers for the spooky season! Loved this take one The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and how it was "modernized". Very atmospheric and spooky/creepy

This was a PERFECT Halloween read and from a literary voice I always trust to tell a great story! I am a huge fan of the author and this novel didn’t disappoint

Thank you, NetGalley for this book.

I’ve only recently become aware of Christian Henry’s work, specifically her Alice series. I’ve heard great things about it and have added it to my TBR. I had completely forgotten that I had this book from NetGalley, so when it turned up as my next read, I was really excited to see if all the hype was real. And, wow, it was. This book was so creative and fun.

From Goodreads: Everyone in Sleepy Hollow knows about the Horseman, but no one really believes in him. Not even Ben Van Brunt’s grandfather, Brom Bones, who was there when it was said the Horseman chased the upstart Crane out of town. Brom says that’s just legend, the village gossips talking.

Twenty years after those storied events, the village is a quiet place. Fourteen-year-old Ben loves to play Sleepy Hollow boys, reenacting the events Brom once lived through. But then Ben and a friend stumble across the headless body of a child in the woods near the village, and the sinister discovery makes Ben question everything the adults in Sleepy Hollow have ever said. Could the Horseman be real after all? Or does something even more sinister stalk the woods?

I love that this story was told from a kid’s perspective. Ben is a strong character with specific ideas and goals. You really root for Ben throughout the book. I’ve only read Sleepy Hollow once or twice and don’t remember much but that didn’t cause me any issues. As long as you have the general gist that a headless horseman terrorizes the town of Sleepy Hollow, running off the schoolteacher Ichabod Crane, you’re set. I really enjoyed this book. It’s categorized as horror, but it’s not super scary or graphic. It really could be a YA book, even. Ben is a great character that you just love and respect. I will definitely be checking out more of Henry’s books.

Spooky and Compelling

In this atmospheric, terrifying novel that draws strongly from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," the author of Alice and The Girl in Red works her trademark magic, spinning an engaging and frightening new story from a classic tale.

Everyone in Sleepy Hollow knows about the Horseman, but no one really believes in him. Not even Ben Van Brunt's grandfather, Brom Bones, who was there when it was said the Horseman chased the upstart Crane out of town. Brom says that's just legend, the village gossips talking. 

More than thirty years after those storied events, the village is a quiet place. Fourteen-year-old Ben loves to play "Sleepy Hollow boys," reenacting the events Brom once lived through. But then Ben and a friend stumble across the headless body of a child in the woods near the village, and the discovery makes Ben question everything the adults in Sleepy Hollow have ever said. Could the Horseman be real after all? Or does something even more sinister stalk the woods?

Christina Henry gets better with every book, especially the ones where she dives into old legends and tales and adds her own unique twist. “Horseman: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow” is no exception and in this case, Henry has added an especially intriguing element with Ben who isn’t quite as you expect. Christina Henry explores not only the legend of Sleepy Hollow but also gender expectations and transgender characters in this thrilling tale.

My favorite element of the story is the character of Ben, his relationship with his grandparents, and how in Ben’s character, Henry explores what our culture expects of girls and what happens when you have someone who doesn’t fall into those norms, who’s true gender doesn’t match the outside. It is deftly explored and Ben’s voice is clear in the story from beginning to end, giving readers a unique character to identify with, especially those who are transgender. 

The plot is a wonderful and spooky tangle of the Sleepy Hollow tale into a uniquely scary story that does not rely on the Horseman to be the villain of the piece. In fact, the true antagonist is something else entirely and is incredibly compelling while also being undeniably terrifying. The ending is unique and unexpected, with the entire novel being one twist after another.

If you love spooky stories, or love the legend of the Sleepy Hollow, you should definitely pick up this book. It will be a perfect read to set up your Halloween season.

Rating: 5 out of 5 horse

Didn't capture my attention and engagement. Interested in trying it again though and hopefully it will take.

This alternate telling of the classic Sleepy Hollow tale was fantastic. As with every other novel I’ve read by this author, it is an incredibly well-written and engaging story. There is a mystery that kept me guessing, a truly scary supernatural element, and characters that the reader can’t help but fall in love with. I love that Henry always manages to add elements of inclusivity in a way that just feels natural. In this case, our main character is trans in a time where no one even knew that was a thing. This theme is deftly woven throughout the novel, and in my opinion, elevated the story immensely. This was a fantastic read.

I'm a sucker for any story based on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

'Horseman' is a story which centers around fourteen year old Ben Van Brunt, the grandchild of Abraham Van Brunt (Brom Bones) and Katrina Van Tassel. Things in Sleepy Hollow are suddenly not so sleepy, when a teenage boy is found dead in the woods, his head and hands missing. More deaths and other strange occurrences follow, and Ben can't seem to stay out of the middle of it all.

Is it the Horseman returned after all these years? Is it the Kludde, a monster from Dutch folklore that can change its form and lure people to their death? Is it someone from the village, someone they know and trust?

Young Ben has this and more on his mind as he struggles with his own identity, tension between himself and his Oma Katrina, whispers about his witchcraft and unnatural ways which have begun to spread among the citizens of Sleepy Hollow, and a voice which seems to call to him from deep in the haunted words beyond the family farm, a voice accompanied by the unmistakable sound of hoof beats.

I thought the story had a slow start, but many do, and around the 100th page it picked up and escalated steadily from there. There are some creepy moments, though the worst to me were the ones when Ben was threatened by people more so than any of the supernatural elements. I loved Henry's portrayal of Brom and Katrina as grandparents, with Brom as loud and cocksure as ever, and Katrina beautiful but hardened after a personal tragedy. The book definitely has a YA feel to it but not necessarily in a bad way - there's none of the YA filler that usually makes me roll my eyes, this is YA done right.

I found the final scene (after a couple of false endings) to be predictable and a little kitschy, but I didn't hate it.

All in all, I think Henry did a commendable job of taking a well-known tale and spinning it into a story all her own, and I loved getting the chance to visit Sleepy Hollow again.

Christina Henry has done it again, but this time with a brilliant sequel of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Henry manages to take the classic story and give it an ending worthy of the tale. The story is set thirty years after the original when the grandson of Brom Bones stumbles upon a headless body in the woods. Was the Sleepy Hollow legend real after all? The book is creepy and perfect for an October read. Highly recommended!

This was a slight departure for Christina Henry. I know she does a a whole lot of retelling, but this was the first that really deviated from the source. I kind of enjoyed but still not her best.

Brilliant riff off of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow with a genderqueer protagonist! I loved the atmosphere, and the story kept me wondering what came next. Strong character development.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow , the headless horseman,Icabod Crane, has always been synonymous with Halloween. It been been the inspiration for many movies, books, and tv shows. Washington Irving’s story has become one of the most popular spooky season Stories to recreate.

Christina Henry did something different. She didn’t recreate the story, she finished it.

The Horsemen take us on a journey of self discovery, family secrets, and a battle of good against evil, and most importantly the power of love.

Decades after that Dark and stormy night, when Icabod was chased by the Headless Horseman, never to be seen again we meet Ben, the granddaughter of Brom and Katrina.

Something is in the woods tearing off children’s heads and hands and Ben has witnessed it.

Sleepy Hollow has an evil lurking in it, what does it have to do with her family, and the headless horseman?

The fate of Katrina, Brom, Icabod, The Horseman, and Sleepy Hollow is revealed in this epically written book, one that would make Washington Irving Proud!

This is a must read if you have ever heard The Legend of Sleepy Hallow!

A legend in horror retellings returns with a new work featuring A Legend of SLeepy Hollow and a few familiar characters…

These works have become some of my favorite reads in the last couple years. I knew I was in for a ride and I was right! Christina Henry always manages to take a classic fairy tale or legend and make something amazing and, well, pretty scary. Definitely one to add to your horror TBR.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy of Horseman by Christina Henry! This was a highly anticipated book for me and I did read it before release day, but have not got around go sending my review. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and visiting Sleepy Hollow once again with a different perspective to the original story. As a horror reader, I have really fallen in love with Christina Henry’s writing, and in this book you can tell her writing has evolved through the years. The queer representation in this book was greatly done. I truly felt that aside from the original Sleepy Hollow story and the horrorific events that occurred in the book, that the story was more of a coming of age story. It also felt very YA for me, which is getting harder for me to read as I get older. Unfortunately this was not my favorite book by her but I would recommend it to some of my subscribers looking for a coming of age story with horror.