I’m not really sure how I feel about this book. I read it because of the promised queer horror elements, and I think it probably largely delivers on what the synopsis tells you to expect. At the same time, it’s a little vague and I honestly could not have predicted where this book ended up going (is it a spoiler if I say cannibalism?) It is gothic historical horror with central queer characters, and the problem might be that I’m not sure if that’s my thing. The entire story is told over a period of decades of the main character’s life, and while there’s an overarching plot there are also lots of smaller narratives contained within. I found it pretty easy to get confused if I wasn’t paying the utmost attention to what I was reading, and so while I digested most of the central narrative I can’t say I would be able to parse out specific details.

All in all, I think that this is a book that you’ll enjoy if you’re a fan of gothic horror or general historical horror. I wouldn’t call it a light or easy read, but it’s definitely an interesting one.

First off, this book has one of the most beautiful covers that has published this year. That was what initially caught my attention, and the historical horror was what compelled me to read it.

I love epistolary stories, however this one didn’t quite hit the mark. I think I would have liked it better if it were told in a more traditional format; the letters and diary entries in the second and third part of this book didn’t feel like authentic entries. I liked the format of the first part, sort of a deathbed confession; the main character narrating his life to the reader worked better for the story and felt more natural than the diary/letters. Part of what didn’t work for me about this one was how disjointed it felt at times. There are three main parts that are connected, but because there are no traditional chapter markers it feels jarring to spend a third of the book in one narration style and then just switch, and then switch again. The different narrators all sound alike as well, which makes it hard to buy into the fact they are different letters of correspondence.

The premise is interesting- secret societies, cults, conspiracies, in a very The Historian type of story. This is written as if it was written in the time period when it takes place, which makes for some jarring and uncomfortable moments when discussing nonwhite characters, among other things. This is slow to build, and the creeping dread is great. I think if readers have the patience to let the story get going at its own pace that there’s a lot to enjoy here. It took me a while to get fully immersed in the story, as I felt a little detached and disconnected from the main characters we follow. I also felt like the action sequences were far too short and handled the large threat too quickly. However, this had an interesting premise and a haunting historical horror narrative, and I’d be interested to see what this author does next!

Is this really a debut book? Amazing!

I'm having a hard time coming up with a way to describe this book. Epistolary ... it is that. Chilling ... in spades. Fascinating ... heck yes. It visits such varied locales and customs, but retains its gothic chilling vibe. It feels a little as if Bram Stoker wrote an adaptation of The Lord of the Rings.

None of the things I wrote in that paragraph comes close to telling you why I loved this book ... *sigh*. Why are reviews so hard to write when you have strong feelings about something?

You will come to love these characters from the first page. The love story between the two main characters is so very sweet and endearing. Sadly, you also know from the first this is going to end terribly for them. They are caught up in a battle that can only lead to the end of the world and are ultimately faced with the question, does the world even deserve to be saved? Now that is a new way of approaching the apocalypse and I thoroughly enjoyed the authors take on it!

I'm not sure what to say. If you still have a need for some creepy fall reading this is perfect. If you love classic gothic books, you want to read this. If you just plain want a well written fantasy book pick this up. I can't recommend it more.

Set primarily in the early 20th century, THE BLACK HUNGER is a gothic horror that spans over a half century of a series of fateful events. Resigned to his eventual death, John Sackville recounts his stomach-clenching tale in a somewhat epistolary fashion. The suspense and mystery build upon themselves as he takes the reader from Oxford to India, Scotland to Tibet, and even to southern Ukraine.

THE BLACK HUNGER is not for the faint of heart. Although I do not generally gravitate to horror, the official synopsis really intrigued me. However, as the story progresses, it becomes darker and more gruesome. So I definitely recommend checking the content warnings. With that said, considering that gothic novels are a toss up on whether I’ll like them, I actually thought this one was well done.

Starting with the writing style, it’s a nice marriage of classical writing with modern sensibility. I felt this made it much more approachable to read than a 19th century classic. It also makes the reader feel more immersed in the particular time period. While it is an epistolary novel, it reads more like a regular book because John tells the reader what happened through a series of long journal entries and letters. I really appreciated this because I felt it allowed the Western reader to become more familiar with the concept(s) of Buddhism.

On that note, the first quarter of the book was harder to progress through for a few reasons. First, as with any start to the novel, it sets the scene and background. Most of this occurs in Oxford, so reading about what John studied wasn’t terribly interesting to me. Second, Pullen has to provide at least the basics of Buddhism and the philosophies about it since it becomes a main subject of the plot. Thankfully, the rest of the book picks up the pace and suspense.

I also want to point out that it seems like Pullen did extensive research on Buddhism and the politics at the time. He provides enough context without overwhelming the reader with too many historical facts of which to keep track. This made everything seem more realistic and, other than the horror aspect, is a solid historical fiction.

I don’t want to spoil the plot, but suffice it to say that once John arrives in the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim, he accidentally sets certain events into motion. The jump back to the mid-19th century, via old journal entries and letters, was particularly gripping. This is when Pullen’s literary vision really starts to manifest and the darkness expands.

I feel like there are also some deeper themes to THE BLACK HUNGER that someone else may describe better. Power is certainly one of those themes. So is wanting the freedom to go against the norm, so to speak, whether in regard to sexuality or religion. There is nothing inherently wrong with wanting that freedom, except for when it starts to infringe on everyone else’s. And that is ultimately what THE BLACK HUNGER is about: two interpretations of a religion to achieve nirvana and end suffering.

Overall, I found this book fascinating. However, I kept my rating at a 4 for two main reasons. The first was the slower pace at the beginning. The second is that I wasn’t a fan of the ending or those types of endings in general. Pacing and ending aside, even though I liked it, THE BLACK HUNGER is not for everyone. But if the religious occult, secret societies, and the stake of the world are your cup of tea, then definitely check out this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Redhook for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am a simple girl, I hear the words “queer gothic historical horror” and I go “please give it to me.” And this one absolutely rules.

The Black Hunger is told in the epistolary, and it works so well for the story being told. I liked the set-up and structure of the novel (there are five parts and three time periods/POVs) and Pullen does a great job with creating atmosphere and tension. One nitpick is that even though the epistolary style is definitely the best way for this story to be told, it often requires a certain amount of reading stamina and having to accept information dumps when they come. This isn’t really the kind of book I’d want to read on a commute, and is definitely more suited towards sitting down and blocking off a nice chunk of time (and unfortunately, it’s been a busy fall for me, so my chances to do that are few and far between).

All of the POV characters were interesting in their own ways, and Pullen did a good job at weaving their stories together. Each part definitely had its ebbs and flows in terms of pacing, but by the end I felt that each one was satisfying. The story itself is fun and like brain candy to me, and I had a great time reading. It could’ve leaned a bit more into the horror, but the general feeling of dread was excellent. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for what Pullen writes next.

dnf @ 25%



I had been SUPER excited for this one, but unfortunately the narrative style did not work for me. The story is set up in an almost epistolary manner, with our narrator recounting his story to the reader. I think this can be successful when that layer of remove is flattened and the reader begins to forget that a character is recounting events to them; but that layer never flattened, and I felt at a distance from the characters and the plot for almost the entire time I was reading. Very briefly (at ~19%), that layer does flatten when the abbot tells us the story of the Four Noble Truths with its twist ending -- and at that point I was like, Ok, excellent, the beginning was just slow, the narrative style is shifting, the layer of remove is receding! Except a few pages later, the remove had reasserted itself, and I once again found myself at a distance.

Evidently, this is a me issue. I think that if you actively like epistolary novels, you would probably really, really like this book. It's just a style I really do not prefer, so the problems I have with that style were really present for me. I absolutely plan to read more from this author tho -- I think he has really interesting ideas he wants to play with, and if this book had been done in a different narrative style, I bet I would have been super engaged. As is, I will not finish this novel & simply wait to get my hands on the next one!

I was so fascinated by the synopsis of this book when I first saw that acquisition announcement on Instagram. I have to say, the reading experience definitely lived up to my initial excitement and curiosity. There's a queer romance, apocalyptic and gothic themes, adventure, etc.--what more could you want? I really enjoyed this. There were a few moments where I felt like it could get a little bit infodumpy at times, but I enjoyed that this was written in a very accessible way. The plot was complex and intricate, with characters that leapt off the page. This was absolutely a 4.5 star (if not 5, pending that the info dumps could be reworked into the narrative a little better) and I cannot wait for more from this author. What a cool, well-executed idea!

𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄: The Black Hunger
𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: Nicholas Pullen
𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐑: RechookbBooks/ Orbit Books
𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: ⁣10.8.2024
𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: Historical Horror
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 @redhookbooks @orbitbooks_us @najpullen @orbitbooks_uk

{𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒}
The Black Hunger by Nicholas Pullen, is an alluring historical horror. This sweeping book is written in three parts, some feature epistolary style format. Rich intrique lore along with in-depth world building and an ominous dark sect of Buddhism. A heavy gothic horror that features a closeted gay romance that had me the grips of its pages.

⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣{𝐇𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐒}
#theblackhunger #nicholaspullen #orbitbooks #redhookbooks #orbit24 #horror #gothichorror #newreleases #bookstagram #witch #witchesofinstagram #darkacademia #gothic #booksbooksbooks #autumnaesthetic #autumnvibes🍁 #autumn

Great writing especially for someone that loves Mary Shelly, Gothic type vibes for horror.

This isn't something I would nornally have read, but the synopsis grabbed my eye, and I liked it Alot.

Paints a lovely dark picture with his story telling, and really draws you in.

If you want to give Gothic horror a try I would highly recommend this as a jump off, it was a good easy captivating read.

The Black Hunger by Nicholas Pullen
#ninetyfirstbookof2024 #arc #theblackhunger

CW: death, murder, cannibalism, racism, homophobia, antisemitism, pagan rituals, lovecraftian creatures, cults, the occult,

From NetGalley:
John Sackville will soon be dead. Shadows writhe in the corners of his cell as he mourns the death of his secret lover and as the gnawing hunger inside him grows impossible to ignore. He must write his last testament before it is too late. The story he tells will take us to the darkest part of the human soul. It is a tale of otherworldly creatures, ancient cults, and a terrifying journey from the stone circles of Scotland to the icy peaks of Tibet. It is a tale that will take us to the end of the world.

This is a difficult novel to describe. It’s billed as queer gothic horror, and I don’t really agree with the horror piece. There are a few unexplained creatures, but that doesn’t make a horror book, in my opinion. There is a section that reflects as gothic, but it’s maybe a third of the book. There is a lot about Buddhism, which was interesting but it was very explain-y and not always well incorporated into the story.

It’s basically a story within a story within a story. All of them were well constructed but I was more interested in the inner stories than the outer one, but they all ended up coming together in the end. I do think it ended a little abruptly and I would have appreciated another chapter. But I really enjoyed it, as much criticism as I’m giving. I would gladly read another book by this author.

Thank you to @redhookbooks and @netgalley for the advance copy. (Available now, pub date was 10/8/24)

This was gothic horror with the scope of an epic fantasy. I loved how intricate and large things got as we followed the multiple stories in a nested story structure. At the heart was a queer romance that was blossoming in a historical time where that was punished. Their love defines a lot of where these characters go and their actions to maintain both their relationship and their own independence. They get wrapped up into something much larger than themselves as a rogue sect of Tibetan Buddhists plot something very sinister.

The pacing is a bit on the slower side, but this works well to increase the tension and build suspense over what the Black Hunger is and how this affects someone, letting the reader see glimpses of its impact before truly revealing the monster it creates.

Thank you to @orbitbooks_us and @netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

The description gave the impression of a suspenseful novel with action and chills. I was excited to read it and intrigued at the beginning. The relationship between the main character and his boyhood friend who became his servant and lover appealed to me.

The long, unbroken beginning section became a chore to get through. I couldn't help thinking how members of the misrepresented culture would feel about the use the author chose to make of their history and the distortions and falsification of Tibetan Buddhism. The inaccuracies about Buddhism and Tibetan culture distracted me a great deal. When it came to the mischaracterizarion of the Dalai Lama, it crossed into clearly offensive.

I still wondered where the author was going with all of this. The second section jumps into a letter from the nineteenth century. As I read it, details struck me as wrong. I accepted that my willingness to suspend disbelief had ended.

DNF at 30%

My thanks to Redhook Books for the eARC via NetGalley for consideration. These are my honest opinions.

This book was not for me. I tried really hard to get into it but the writing style was very dry and dense, with pages upon pages of lengthy paragraphs of exposition. Not to mention, the format was not reader friendly. There were no chapters in the first part, which was over 100 pages long of said lengthy exposition. While the research put into the book was admirable, it was the only thing that was interesting.

The Black Hunger is the story of an impending apocalypse laced with the everyday horrors of life in the late nineteenth/early twentieth century, specifically for gays, jews, and women. The supernatural and cult horror elements in this story were described well and painted a very vivid picture of the monsters being fought.

The one downfall I really felt was the whole thing being told in five chapters. I loved the break up of sections and how the story was told in it's parts, but not having chapters inside the parts made it feel like way much more of a slog through than it actually was.

The Black Hunger is an ambitious, queer gothic horror that sets out for great things and, in the end, achieves only a few bit of them. It is certainly not an easy read, often rambling in too-long chapters, but offers enough meat for the reader to sink their teeth into if they have the patience and drive to slog through it all.

The book is separated into three parts and, unfortunately, the second segment was really the only one that worked for me. The Black Hunger is not a terrible read by any means, but could have greatly benefitted from more editing overall.

I enjoy a slow-burn plot, not a slow-burn read. Not my cup of tea, but The Black Hunger certainly has it's audience somewhere.

The Black Hunger is a captivating epistolary novel that weaves together three interconnected stories across different time periods. The narrative explores themes of love, loss, bigotry, and the supernatural, offering a rich and immersive reading experience.

Key Points:

* Historical Fiction: The novel is deeply rooted in history, providing a detailed and well-researched exploration of various time periods, including the early 1900s, the late 1800s, and the mid-1800s.

* Gothic Horror: The narrative incorporates elements of gothic horror, with supernatural occurrences and unsettling atmosphere.

* Interconnected Stories: The three narratives, told through letters and diary entries, gradually intertwine, revealing connections and building suspense.

* Themes of Love and Loss: The novel delves into themes of love, loss, and the enduring nature of human emotions.

* Social Commentary: The story addresses issues of homophobia, antisemitism, and colonialism, offering a critical perspective on the historical context.

* Supernatural Elements: While the supernatural plays a role, the author manages to ground the narrative in reality, making the events believable despite their extraordinary nature.

Overall, The Black Hunger is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that combines historical fiction, gothic horror, and social commentary.

Readers who enjoy exploring the darker side of history and are drawn to stories with rich characters and intricate plots will find this book particularly rewarding.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up The Black Hunger, but by the time I finished, I was completely hooked. This book is a slow-burn, gothic horror that creeps under your skin in the best way. Pullen does an amazing job of creating this eerie, atmospheric vibe that sticks with you long after you’ve closed the book.

The story centers on John Sackville, a man on the edge of death. This story has an ever-growing sense of doom that makes the whole journey feel both epic and terrifying.

What I really loved is how Pullen doesn’t rush the scares. The horror creeps up on you slowly, and builds tension page by page. There’s something haunting about how it’s written, like you’re not just reading about monsters and ancient cults, but you’re right there with John, feeling the fear grow. It’s very psychological, which makes it even scarier.

There’s also a story of love threaded through the horror, and while it’s heartbreaking, it added a personal layer that made everything feel more real and intense. The stakes weren’t just about survival; they were emotional too, which I didn’t expect from a horror novel.

If you like gothic stories that build tension and give you chills without relying on jump scares, you’ll love The Black Hunger. It’s dark, beautifully written, and deeply unsettling in the best way possible. Definitely worth the read!

I love me some historical horror books and this was no exception. The plot was great and the characters all likeable. Not usually a historical girlie but will dip my toes into it more.

Epic and gritty, dark epic beautifully written fantasy in a breaker world that just sucks you in... thankyou

DNF at 17%. While the premise was exciting and the prose is interesting, the first act of the novel has a lot of info-dumping that my brain just doesn't have the capacity for right now. I may return to this in the future though!