Quite an interesting book with lot's of twists and turns! Definitely don't want to get on the wrong side of dark magic. And has the potential to get a series.

Wow, this might be Golden's wildest book yet! A forest on a hundred-year-old ship, a hurricane, a coven of 'don't call us witches,' a violent battle between good and evil, what more could you ask for?

The action ramps up almost immediately, and the tension never wavers. There are some truly unsettling scenes, wonderfully gruesome deaths, and plenty of creepy characters throughout - all elements that many recent horror novels have been lacking. The setting is truly unique, and the atmosphere consistently palpable.

There's a decently large cast of characters to keep track of, but most, including our protagonist Book are solidly created and easy to root for. My favorite was, surprisingly, Mae, our conflicted anti-hero.

Overall, I enjoyed the breakneck pacing of the book, but I would have liked a little more background on the 'not witches' and their mythology. The early conversations attempting to explain their existence were some of the weaker parts of the book, and a little bit awkward. There were also scenes later in the book where supernatural aspects were less effective than they could have been without more context.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Christopher Golden sure knows how to write a thriller that keeps me glued to the edge of my seat and losing sleep, 5 stars!

Charlie Book is a good man who is getting ready to weather a storm. He will ride it out on the Christabel, an abandoned ship used to conduct research for his job. But fate has other ideas, and his former girlfriend Ruby shows up. With her is another woman and a baby, Aiden, desperate for Charlie’s help. He cannot think of a safer place to take them then to the Christabel. But it is not the haven he imagines and soon saving this baby will become near impossible.
Book and Ruby believe they are safe, but something knows exactly where they are and will do whatever it takes to get Aiden back. A fantastic setting that just oozed creepy vibes. Was I sorry how it ended? Yes, but realistically, I knew that not everyone could survive the night.

The Night Birds was fantastic! Thank you for giving me an early copy of this one! I have read a few by this author and I have always had a great time reading his books!

Christopher Golden has crafted an extraordinary and chilling tale of horror, magic, and ancient forces in The Nightbirds.

Charlie Book is a dedicated scientist working for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. His current project is to document the Christabel, a 19th-century freighter that lies half-sunken off the coast of Galveston. Overgrown with mangroves and home to a variety of wildlife, the Christabel has become its own isolated ecosystem, a bizarre but intriguing mix of nature and history. Charlie, along with his team, is studying this unique site with hopes of turning it into a small park—an endeavor that could transform the ship into a vital piece of Galveston’s preservation efforts.

But as a massive storm approaches, threatening the coast, Charlie makes the fateful decision to ride out the tempest aboard the Christabel, while the rest of his team seeks shelter in the safety of local hotels. It’s a choice that will prove to be far more dangerous than he could ever have imagined. Before the storm hits, Charlie’s past reappears in the form of Ruby, his former love. Ruby, now with a baby and a friend in tow. Desperate, Ruby begs Charlie for help, claiming the child is her niece. Despite the strange circumstances, Charlie doesn’t hesitate to offer his assistance.

As the storm rages and the darkness draws closer, the black birds that are commonly seen at night begin to circle ominously. Charlie is faced with a terrifying choice: protect Ruby and the child from the growing evil, or escape before the ancient force consumes them all.

Golden’s writing is masterful in its ability to combine the atmospheric tension of a haunted setting with the suspense of a supernatural thriller. The way he weaves together elements of folklore, magic, and horror makes The Nightbirds a uniquely unsettling experience. The slow, creeping dread builds as you begin to understand the full extent of the evil they are up against, and Golden’s vivid descriptions of the ship, the storm, and the increasingly ominous presence of the birds create a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere that will have you holding your breath until the very end.
#stmartins #thenightbirds #christophergolden #horror #supernatural

Golden continues to impress fans of the horror genre by reinventing himself with every new book. There’s nothing formulaic about Golden and his latest, featuring a derelict ship with the forest growing through it, is full of surprises