This book was wild. A sunken ship with a forest growing through the middle, a coven of witches chaotically hunting down a woman and her baby---this is a really well-crafted horror tale. The storm and the suspense were so good, and I really had no idea what was coming next or how the book was going to end. I just really enjoyed the writing and the plot, I was hooked from start to finish!

I found The Night Birds atmospheric and uber creepy.
This story is pretty unhinged, from a half sunken ship with a forest growing through the middle to the coven of witches after a woman and her baby,
I loved the atmosphere. A horrendous storm, while stuck on a ship sunk far enough out from shore, you need a boat to reach it, half rusted and filled with water, and a beautiful forest teeming with life right in the middle.

The coven is dangerous and will do whatever it takes to get the baby, and Book, Ruby, and Mae are now in the crosshairs. The longer the storm rages, the more horrifying things get. With plenty of twists and suspenseful moments that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I had no idea how this was going to end, and I loved every moment!
I can't wait to see what Christopher Golden is going to come out with next!

An epic horror tale! A not so bad hurricane is bearing down on Galveston. What was supposed to be a mild hurricane turns out to be much worse that the weatherman predicted. Ruby meets her sister's wife (Mae), along with her infant nephew. But what she brings along is much more sinister than Mae lets on.  Meanwhile a crew working on the Christabel, an abandoned freighter has settled in for the night, three in the safety of a hotel and Charlie "Book" decides to continue his normal and sleep on the Christalbel. Ruby has a past with Book and reaches out to him for a safe place to stay, until the storm blows over. Aboard the Christabel, events quickly worsen with the storm and  with  the blood thirsty witches that are seeking Mae and the infant. 

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. It was insanely great.

You know what I really love about Christopher Golden’s work? It’s never the same twice. (Well if you don’t count the series work he’s done over the year, ala Buffy.) He’s always willing to try something new or come at something from an unexpected way. And he’s definitely done that in his newest book, The Night Birds, which, I over the last month or so, had the privilege of both reading and listening the audiobook version as well. I really enjoyed the cast here, with both Book and Ruby being completely relatable. Damaged and flawed, but also vulnerable and completely sympathetic. Seriously, as Golden slowly dishes out the details of their past, you can’t help but feel for them. The old sunken ship made for a great location, with them being trapped out there in the middle of the storm making it feel even more isolated and atmospheric, and the coven that is chasing them, or more appropriately the baby, are super creepy. There is definitely heavy emotions in this one, which I won’t talk about due to spoilers, but…anyway. I will say what is amazing is that so much happens in a book that really spans only a single night. This is a story about the family you have and the family you choose, and the lengths you will go to for them. As for the audio version, Sean Patrick Hopkins and Patricia Santomasso both deliver topnotch performances, which made it an absolute pleasure to listen to, even having already read the story a month or so earlier. This one just really clicked with me. 4.5 stars. I’d like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC and Spotify Audiobooks for the advanced audio version of The Night Birds.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-night-birds-christopher-golden/1146167543?ean=9781250285928&bvnotificationId=8d8b4c4b-2b06-11f0-ba66-0ebe37688197&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/345337415

This book would make an AMAING movie. The detail in this book makes it so you can see everything in your head

This is my third Christopher Golden author and he is slowly becoming one of my favorite horror authors book by book.

This book takes a fun take on witches and really brings old lore into the story. I thought the multiple people would confuse me but it was easy to follow along.

My only complaint is that the main character’s name was Book and that made some parts hard to follow.


Genre: Horror
APK: Ebook
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone

I will say that the setting of this book is absolutely creeptastic! The cover is quite eye catching and the description of the that terrible night with a hurricane going on, getting worse, people on a derelict ship that contains its own little floating mangrove forest, maniac birds, and disturbing witchy weaver women on the hunt for a baby for despicable sacrifice (and the trail of bodies left behind them!). It is a reunion for Ruby and Book and a second chance for Book to rise to the occasion and be the man that Ruby needs. Despite the seriousness of the situation though, it takes agonizingly long for the for the full story to get told so I could find out all the whys of who wants the baby and what has happened in the time between Ruby and Mia's frantic running to their arrival with Book at the sunken ship. I still was on the edge of my seat as the horrors rose higher and higher as the storm got worse, culminating in a climax that was heartbreaking, with all the nightmares becoming true and the sacrifices made to try and save little baby Aiden. Very dark and tragic and memorable and top notch horror, though I think that it would be cool to see the Cristabel though not with the night weavers on board or during a storm.

I definitely like this author's books which are quite nicely creepy horror with a hit of thriller to keep me reading long into night!

Christopher Golden excels at creating an atmospheric setting and tone in each of his books. Like one of his previous stories, Road of Bones, The Night Birds is a slavic folk tinged horror thriller. This is a story with witches, a half sunken freighter, and a mangrove forest. While paced differently than Golden’s previous books, it serves more as a thriller with supernatural elements. Overall the vibes are pure Golden and the setting is perfect. This is a good read for a dark stormy night.

I love the cover of this book. It instantly drew me in and I love it even more after reading this book. I thought this book was very unique and original. I loved the storyline the author did a great job putting this book together. The folk horror was done really well.

typically do not read horror novels, however, this is the second book by Christopher Golden that I have read and I LOVED IT. Golden perfectly captured the creepy, eerie, suspenseful, foreboding atmosphere. The main setting of the novel is a half sunken, rusted ship with a forest growing through it in the middle of a hurricane, creepy right? Throw in witches and you have the recipe for a suspenseful novel.

I was thoroughly creeped out while reading and loved every minute of it. While reading, you can just tell something bad is brewing. As with The House of Last Resort , the ending was the best part.

Overall, I absolutely loved the plot and the setting of the book. At times, I felt disconnected from some of the characters and found myself not caring what happened to them. That being said, I will gladly read another Christopher Golden book in the future.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This was a pretty good horror read. This is the second book that I’ve read by Golden and I really like his writing. He’s really good at creating a tense, horror-filled story.

I loved the setting in this book. Most of the story is set in this creepy, old, half sunken freighter ship, and it really created an eerie atmosphere. I also loved the supernatural elements, especially the author’s unique take on witches and witchcraft.

I thought the characters were all well-developed and interesting. I liked the complex relationship between Charlie and Ruby and I thought they were particularly intriguing characters.

There was a lot of horror action that I loved. The story felt very cinematic and thrilling. Although, there were some pacing issues throughout the book. I felt like some parts were slower and dragged a little, mainly some of the moments that took place in the freighter ship.

I enjoyed the ending and I thought it was a good conclusion to the story.

I think horror lovers will enjoy this one. I look forward to reading more from Golden in the future.

2.5 stars

the first 40% was intriguing, but the longer it went on the more disconnected i felt. the characters just came across so dull, i really didn’t care what would happen to them. i actually did like the horror elements and the atmospheric writing but it wasn’t enough to carry the whole story for me. even though there was a lot happening, it still managed to feel drawn out and everything that was thrown into the plot felt messy. there was potential for sure, but the execution fell flat.

Golden hits the atmosphere every time. The Night Birds has malevolent threats all around; a coven (read "cult") of witches serving an old evil, an unpredictable storm in the Gulf, and a half sunken ship.
Thrilling, fast paced, creepy, supernatural. Emotional and heartpounding.
All you have to do is survive...

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of The Night Birds in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

After reading The House of Last Resort, I had high expectations for this one. The Night Birds is an excellent read, combining both sadness and fear. While I still prefer the previous book, this one is genuinely good as well. If you’re looking for a story filled with layers of emotional depth, heartfelt moments, and some legitimately terrifying moments, don’t hesitate to pick this one up!

I have never read anything by this author, but I will be looking out for other books they write in the future. I really enjoyed the story as well as the pacing of the story.

Thank you to Christopher Golden and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC and MacMillan audio for the ALC!

“Was this witchcraft or was it truly what it felt like to be around pure evil?”

Everything about this book was spooky! A floating forest, witches before they were witches and creepy birds…sign me up!

As with the previous books I have read by this author, I was immediately drawn in with his rich writing style. Deeply atmospheric, “The Night Birds” plays out like a movie on the screen. I am in my witchy era at the moment too so this was the perfect book for me!

“The Night Birds” releases May 6, 2025. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

4.5 rounded up because I finished this in 2 sittings with that last one blowing through 175-ish pages.

We're promised a thrilling and atmospheric reading experience from the back cover and that is exactly what is delivered! Not only was this atmospheric, it read as cinematic as well; I find that to be mighty impressive because I often have a difficult time visualizing descriptions in my mind. Also... as a person who likes a bit of blood and gore in my horror books, this was perfectly satisfying lol.

I did find the characters to be the slight weak point of the book as it was difficult to connect with them...maybe lacking dimension?? Strangely enough, this didn't take away from my reading experience--for me, the storyline and writing were strong enough to negate any qualms of that nature.

This is a perfect book to get someone out of a reading slump or looking for a page-turning thriller/horror type book, this one is for you!!

With a hurricane bearing down on Galveston, Charlie Book gives his team the night off. They've been stationed offshore with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Service, studying the Christabel—a half-sunken 19th-century freighter swallowed by Gulf waters and tangled in a lattice of mangrove trees. Over time, nature has turned the wreck into something strange and beautiful, a ghost ship wrapped in living roots. Book has grown obsessed with the vessel’s eerie stillness, isolation, and secrets. He plans to ride out the storm alone aboard the ship, despite the warnings.

Just as he’s about to depart, Ruby appears on the dock. He hasn’t seen her in years. Their relationship ended in pain, the kind you don’t easily talk about or forget. Now here she is, soaked in rain and panic, not alone but with a frightened woman and an infant in tow. They beg him to take them aboard the Christabel. They're running from a coven of witches, no less, and believe the child is marked for sacrifice. Book knows it sounds insane. He almost laughs. But something in Ruby’s eyes makes him pause. Against his better judgment, he agrees to help.

As the storm closes in and the wind howls through Christabel's broken ribs, something stirs in the dark. The night birds are circling, watching, waiting. What seemed like an act of mercy may have just invited an ancient terror aboard.

I'll admit, the setup of The Night Birds struck me as a bit over-the-top when I first read the synopsis. A coven of witches chasing a woman with the intent to sacrifice an infant? It sounded more pulpy than genuinely terrifying. And yes, there are certainly moments in this story that invite an eye-roll or two. But Christopher Golden is a master of horror for a reason, and that expertise is on full display here.

Golden conjures a setting that’s as eerie as it is beautiful—a half-drowned ship tangled in mangrove roots, isolated off the Texas coast. It’s the kind of place that keeps you off balance, unsure whether to marvel or shudder. The forest-aquatic atmosphere alone generates a steady undercurrent of unease, and when Golden decides to go for the scares, he delivers. Several moments in this novel had me reaching for the nearest light switch.

Is The Night Birds my favorite of his? No. That title still belongs to The House of Last Resort. But it’s always a thrill to dive into horror that’s atmospheric, original, and unapologetically weird. The Night Birds might be a little silly, but it’s also a creepy, fast-paced blast. And really, what more could you ask for?

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I went into this one essentially blind, and all I knew was that it was about a ship in some way. What I did not realize was that the setting was a half-sunken freighter with a forest growing out of it. How cool!! A good chunk of this novel is spent on that ship with the main characters, and the setting really added another layer of atmosphere to the story that was fantastic, especially as the horror started to amp up aboard. I don't like birds to begin with, so they really freaked me out, and this book had a twist on a horror trope that was really interesting. I actually wish the story had more about the "bad guys" in the novel, whom Ruby is on the run from, as I was really intrigued by that aspect of the story. I wish more was explained about what they were trying to accomplish, why, and how some things worked (sorry for the vagueness, but really trying to keep this spoiler-free). A prequel about Ruby's sister would actually be so interesting, in my opinion. Book stands out as the highlight character for me. He is thrust into this insane situation and has to fight for not only his own survival but survival of his ex-girlfriend and the other people he is with. There were some super disturbing scenes in this one especially when following some side characters who are trying to aid Book. The pacing was fantastic and I did not want to put this book down, especially after about the 30% mark. I really recommend this one if you are looking for an atmospheric horror story where you can feel the tension between the characters and their environment.

The Night Birds by Christopher Golden is a bleak story. Charlie Book is living on a half-sunken freighter, studying the mangrove forest that has grown up through it. A powerful storm is heading his way when his ex, Ruby, shows up. She has a strange woman and a baby with her, stating that they are in danger. Book takes them in for the night, unaware that something horrible is hunting them. I usually love all things Christopher Golden, but I struggled to get into this book. It didn’t hold my interest as much as I expected. I felt more connected to the side characters instead of the main characters. This is violent and you can expect for anyone you like to die. Witchcraft is the backbone of this book. From the synopsis, I had different ideas about what the story was, and was kind of disappointed in the route it took. Overall, I liked it, but think there are better Christopher Golden books. 3/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me access to an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Publication date May 6th, 2025. This review will be found on Instagram, StoryGraph, and Goodreads indefinitely.

Charlie Book and his team are involved in a project for Texas Parks and Wildlife, investigating and possibly restoring a 19th century vessel half-sunk in the harbor, with the phenomena of a forest of mangrove trees growing on, in and through it. As he heads back to the ship to ride out the tropical storm that's hitting the Galveston area, his old flame Ruby Cahill shows up. With her is a woman named Mae. a baby and a story. The baby's mother, Ruby's sister, was murdered, but Mae saved the baby, and now, they need shelter from a coven of witches who are after them and the baby. Book agrees to let them shelter on the ship with him. But it's not long before the storm intensifies, the nighthawks arrive on the ship, and unbeknownst to them, strange women are appearing in town. As the storm rages, the three will be in a fight for their life, trapped on the freighter and in the crosshairs of the witches and something worse.
The Night Birds was one vicious, nasty book. Once the brief introductions are over, the story surges ahead with mounting dread and an intensity greater than any hurricane. It's definitely not your average evil witch fairy tale. This was a refreshing take on witchcraft, blending in centuries-old mythology that goes way beyond being simply wicked. One of Christopher Golden's best books yet. - 4.5/5*