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*

Horror is not typically a genre that I read a lot of, but I always make an exception for a Christopher Golden novel. 'The Night Birds' does not disappoint, driven by horror, the lengths that one will go to for someone you love, and a healthy dose of witchcraft.

Ruby Cahill is an aspiring singer in Texas, living in the house that she inherited from her grandfather and playing in clubs. She hasn't seen or heard from her wayward sister, Bella, until a stranger shows up in Ruby's yard late at night with a baby that she claims belongs to Bella, and a tale of danger that Ruby can barely believe. Enter her ex-boyfriend, Charlie Book. Charlie conducts research on the half sunken ship 'The Cristobel'. Anchored to the gulf by a grove of mangrove trees that are growing up through the wreck of the ship, 'The Cristobel' is the perfect place to hide out during a gulf storm, and Charlie is more than willing to help Ruby. However, not all as is at seems - not the woman who showed up with her sister's baby, not the night birds surrounding the wreck of 'The Cristobel', and not even the storm itself.

Taking place in the Gulf of Mexico, in the rusty hull of an old ship, during a hurricane level storm, the atmosphere of 'The Night Birds' sticks to your skin as you read, leaving you feeling the lashing rain and shift and lull of the ship beneath the characters' feet. Told in multiple-POV over the course of a long night, The Night Birds weaves a tale of witchcraft and horror that stays with you long after its conclusion.

0/5 chili peppers for spice.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC of this novel.

Charlie Book and Ruby Cahill never expected to see each other again after they broke up. Now, Charlie lives aboard the Christabel, a 19th century freighter half-sunken off the shore of Galveston.,as part of his work for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Book calls it the Floating Forest, because over the years, a massive forest of mangrove trees has grown up through the deck of the ship. As a powerful storm hits the Gulf, Book plans to sleep on his Floating Forest, as always. When he arrives at the dock, he has a surprise waiting for him - Ruby is there, along with another woman and her baby. They want Book to hide them on the Christabel while they are on the run.....from a coven of witches. According to Mae, the coven had plans to sacrifice the baby, and that was why she spirited him away. Book doesn't believe what she is telling him,and doesn't want to help, but he feels a strong urge to set things right with Ruby. So he brings them onboard. Then the night birds come.....searching for their prey.

I love this author's books. He definitely knows how to tell a good horror story. Although nothing can top All Hallows, I don't believe, this one was really good, and it definitely made my skin crawl. It was very fast paced, and not at all what I was expecting. If you love a good horror story, then you will definitely want to add this to your TBR pile.

The Night Birds by Christopher Golden is a mysterious and atmospheric horror/thriller that takes place over the span of one harrowing night.

Charlie Book is a researcher for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. His current project is researching the plants and wildlife aboard a half sunken 19th century freighter called The Christabel. The Christabel is unlike any other project Book has worked before because this freighter has its own ecosystem of mangrove trees growing up underneath and through the middle of the ship. One night during an increasing storm, Book is on the docks getting ready to take a boat out to the Christabel for the night like he usually does. He is startled when his ex Ruby, another woman named Mae and a baby show up begging Book to keep them safe. They won't tell Book who they are running from, but Book relents and brings everyone over to the ship to weather out the storm and whoever it is they are running from. But as the unbelievable story of a coven of witches starts to come out, Book realizes that Ruby has brought an evil ancient force right to his doorstep and it is almost impossible to believe. Will The Christabel keep them all safe or are they aboard their final floating resting place?

This was such an interesting take on the idea of witches and the lore that surrounds them. I really loved the setting of the Christabel. The way Golden writes is rich with vivid detail, making the freighter almost a character in itself. The layers of foreboding and creeping sense of dread really put an intensity in the narrative that will have your heart rate speeding up. The characters are vulnerable and flawed making them real and compelling to read about. Overall I really thought that this was a solid horror/thriller and I am interested in reading more from Christopher Golden!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Christopher Golden, and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!! Publication date is May 6th 2025.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all, thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!! Christopher Golden has quickly become one of my favorite authors and he was really in the zone with this one! I think horror is one of the hardest genres to write well, and he never misses!

Charlie and Ruby have a past when she shows up on his door step in the middle of a storm with a baby and strange woman asking to be hidden and protected by him. He does so without even thinking because of their history, but he gets so much more than he bargained for.

Not only did the author set the atmosphere for this perfectly, but I started it on a gloomy rainy day! I mean what could be better. But truly his world building and character development is unmatched. Release day is May 6. Definitely pick this one up for a summer thriller!

A fast paced novel surrounding witches and their journey to hide from their own. However, it’s hard to hide from your own kind, especially when they can work with nature.

On the night of a powerful hurricane, winds blow in something eerily through the town and not just the weather. Including Ruby, a character from Book’s past, a baby, the mystery of a murdered sister and something Ruby doesn’t seem ready to reveal.

A slow unravel story, one that gives you a small bit of information at a time. In the beginning, I wish there had been more of a change in point of views and I do think that would have helped to flip povs. Some of the descriptions felt repetitive in the places describing the boat during the hurricane. Like the imagery was already there, it didn’t need to be dragged out.

Very much a slow build, too slow in places, and too much repetitiveness on why the relationship between Book and Ruby didn’t work out. I would have liked a little more fear or thrill interwoven in. It does take about 30% of the way before you get there. The descriptions and incorporation of the birds was the best part.

The first half of the book could have been edited down to half of what it was; maybe more successful as a novella. It was alright-still haven’t found another novel by the author that has lived up to All Hallows. The ending did seem to wrap up everything nicely.

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press for an eARC ❤️❤️❤️

The star of this book might just be the *Christabel* itself—a decaying ship overrun by a grotesquely beautiful mangrove forest, its roots twisting through rusted metal like nature reclaiming something long condemned. Golden’s descriptions are so real you can almost smell the brine and rot, hear the creak of shifting wood, and feel the oppressive weight of the storm bearing down. The ship isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a character, whispering secrets and hiding terrors in its shadowy depths.

Charlie Book, a biologist studying the wreck, is a reluctant hero—pragmatic, wounded, and utterly unprepared for the supernatural nightmare that crashes into his life when his ex-lover, Ruby, reappears with a terrified woman and a stolen baby. Ruby is fierce but haunted, and their fractured history adds emotional weight to the horror. Whether Johanna, the runaway they’re protecting, is a victim or something far more dangerous.

What begins as a tense hideout from a coven of witches spirals into something far more primal. Golden plays with folklore and cosmic horror, teasing just enough to let your imagination run wild. Are the pursuers merely fanatics, or are they conduits for something older and hungrier? The storm ratchets up the claustrophobia, trapping the characters in a floating labyrinth where every shadow could be a threat—and the mangroves themselves seem to be watching.

Golden’s strength lies in his ability to balance dread with heart. The scares are unsettling but never cheap, built on atmosphere and the characters’ fraying sanity. The bond between Charlie and Ruby—equal parts love and regret—grounds the horror, making their fight for survival all the more gripping. And just when you think you know where the story’s headed, the *Christabel* reveals another dark secret 🫣

Best enjoyed to read “Night Birds” :Late at night, with the windows open and the sound of rain tapping against the glass.🙃or put some ASMR videos on the background with a storm and rain 🌧️

And one more thing the cover of the book is absolutely stunning 😍😍😍😍

3.5. Christopher Golden isn’t for everyone, but I really enjoy his settings and creatures. This book was similar to Road of Bones in that the plot line dragged a little, but he made up for it with the setting and the unique resolution for the “monster.” Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the ARC!

The Night Birds served up everything I could possibly want in a horror book. It was dark, macabre, chilling and unlike anything I’ve ever read.

The setting was SO good! It was an old ship that had been overtaken by the surrounding forest. It felt like a character in itself and created a deliciously creepy atmosphere.

The twists and turns through the middle of the story were insane! Just when I thought things couldn’t get any crazier, something else would happen that would throw me for a loop all over again.

The fact that a baby’s life was endangered was the only major sticking point for me. This subject matter has become difficult for me to stomach since becoming a Mom, and I’m not sure if it’ll become easier with time.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

Read if you like:

✨ Shipwrecks
✨ Former lovers with unfinished business
✨ Good vs evil
✨ Insane twists

A Spooky Island Story with Nightmarish Creatures!

Christopher Golden writes creepy horror that sticks with readers long after they finish the story! The Night Birds starts in such an unassuming way. The writing hooked me within the first couple of chapters. It was dark and mysterious, setting the scene and laying the groundwork for an epic showdown in a really cool location. The Night Birds keeps the character list somewhat small, and I think this really helped keep the story intimate and something I wanted to keep coming back to. There was a small list of characters whose connections just kept things interesting. There were reveals and growth, and the evolution of each character by the end of the story made this book such a fun journey.

The paranormal parts of this story take center stage by about a third of the way in. Once this element develops, I could NOT PUT THIS STORY DOWN! Christopher Golden knows how to write monsters and creatures from our darkest nightmares, but he also builds such fantastic characters to fight that evil. The end of this story had me devastated, creeped out, and honestly exhausted. I felt like I had faced everything with the characters, which is what Golden wants. He wants his readers to have an excellent, horrific thrill-ride in this novel, and the mission was accomplished!

Run, don't walk to grab your copy of the latest by terrific horror writer, Christopher Golden!

Christopher Golden's latest thrilling read "The Night Birds" is an exciting and action-packed read, but one that left me wanting more. There is a lot of setup for the novel, and when you get to the finale, doesn't feel like the time spent world-building was necessarily justified. The premise of the novel is captivating, with some of the most horrifying scenes Golden has written being within the novel, but it took ages to get to the exciting stuff, and the conclusion of the novel leaves you wanting so much more. Don't get me wrong, it's a very entertaining read, but I wanted so much more out of this story. It's certainly worth the read, even if it leaves you hoping there is more to come in the future for these characters.

Sometimes when there are multiple POVs I'll have a hard time connecting to some characters or might not like certain ones based on my own preferences, but this was not the case with The Night Birds. I was instantly invested in every character that was introduced. I felt like, despite a lot of short chapters, Christopher Golden was able to paint a perfect picture of what kind of person each character was with the limited backstories we were given for everyone.

The setting—a forest of mangrove trees growing inside of a half-sunken ship—was such a cool and interesting concept. I must admit there were times I found it hard to picture, but that's on me for not knowing a thing about boats! But it wasn't just the setting that was cool; the witches and the history behind them was also unique, with the "head witch," so to speak, being quite grotesque in the best way, if you're into gorey imagery.

I wasn't sure how things would end, and sometimes endings can fall flat after a great build up, but I felt satisfied, although a bit sad, with how it all played out.

The setting of The Night Birds has to be one of the coolest in any novel I’ve read: Most of the book takes place aboard a 19th century freighter ship rusting off the coast of Galveston, Texas called the Christobel, home to a floating mangrove forest. If you think that’s the perfect setting for a creepy story, you’re right. Although, I did ultimately wish The Night Birds was a bit scarier.

I think the publisher’s description gives too much of the plot away, so here’s all you really need to know: A researcher for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department named Charlie Book is about to settle in for a stormy night aboard the abandoned ship he calls home, when his ex-girlfriend, Ruby, shows up unexpectedly – with a strange woman and an infant in tow. They’re on the run, and they need Book to hide them aboard the Christobel where they won’t be found by the people hunting them. The story the women tell Book is harrowing and fantastical, utterly unbelievable…until Book sees the truth of it for himself. Meanwhile, the weather is getting worse, and shadows are moving in the mangrove forest…

Christopher Golden always seems to come up with really intriguing, fresh ideas for his horror plots, and The Night Birds is no exception. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that deals with the idea of witches in quite this way; Golden’s version is so interesting and creepy, and I actually wanted more of the lore than he gives us. The story builds and builds with layers of foreboding and mounting dread, laced with disturbing imagery; it’s so atmospheric, and there’s so much tension in the first half of the book.

Unfortunately, though, just when I should have been really invested in the fates of the characters, I started to lose interest. Perhaps there were too many characters to keep track of and they weren’t developed quite enough, or maybe it was because I wanted Golden to utilize the mangrove forest more than he did. Maybe it was because the characters were in a chaotic scenario, and the way everything unfolded read somewhat messy on the page. For whatever reason, I was left feeling like The Night Birds didn’t fully live up to its potential. It’s a good horror novel, but not a great one. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the early reading opportunity.

60/100 or 3.0 stars

This started out promising and caught my attention, as I do like Golden's writing and was hoping to like this as much as "Road of Bones." I was interested just enough to finish this to see how it would end, but I probably would have not finished this if I wasn't reviewing this ARC for a review. The plot didn't do anything different to really make it stand out, but it was a decent read and I would still be interested in giving Golden another chance!

This was a fast, satisfying horror that kept me interest the entire time. Taking place over a single day during a storm, these are lots of aspects here that work really well. I do think with so much of this focused on relationships, a bit more time and development of the characters would have gotten this to a five star for me. As it was, everything was sufficient for a good story, but not the absolute slam-dunk it could have been.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

pretty well written horror novel! at points motivations definitely seemed a little confusing, but in general I liked it. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

This was reminiscent of All Hallows for me, as it took place over the course of one harrowing night. Charlie Book is a scientist studying the Christabel, a wrecked freighter off the coast of Galveston, TX. The Christabel is its own floating forest, as mangrove trees and all kids of wildlife have sprung up through the wreckage. As a tropical storms rages, Charlie sticks to his plan of staying aboard the Christabel overnight. Upon arriving back at the dock, however, his ex, Ruby, is waiting for him with an infant and a woman on the run. The woman, Mae, has an unbelievable story about a coven of witches and what they want to do this infant, Ruby's nephew. Charlie agrees to hide them, but then the terrors really start.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this digital e-arc.*