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*

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