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.*

this was a dnf. the witchcraft was cool to read about but the plot went absolutely nowhere. very disappointed in this as an avid shipwreck girlie. christopher golden might have been a one hit wonder with me.

I am FINALLY done with this book. Despite Golden's vivid writing style, the slow pacing and "sacrifical" plotpoints were not for me. I was up washing dishes and clothes, anything to avoid reading this book. I just couldn't stay interested. Parts that did interest me, turned my stomach. Anything involving child sacrifice I just don't enjoy reading about, fictional or not. Even the hint of child murder ended whatever pleasure I got from the intriguing location. Beautiful cover, by the way. An old rusty scuttled ship with mangroves growing up through it? Yes please. Despite that it took me weeks to finish. The cover does a great job of recreating the ship.

The Night Birds by Christopher Golden is at its core, a book about relationships lost/gone wrong: sisters, grandparents, lovers, mother and child and lastly and most importantly covens. Others may like it more than I did. There was a lot of sneering, hiding and really bad villain commentary. The amount of gory moments were satisfying and there was a nice boss battle at the end but it just didn't resonate with me. Sorry.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Prose: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pacing: slow
Scary: uncanny
Gore: yes
Character Development:
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Loved the premise, but unfortunately couldn't connect well with the characters, so it started to fall a little flat for me and I became disinterested.

Sadly, this did not work for me, this synopsis was so interesting but felt myself drifting throughout the book and did not feel connection with the characters. The horror was good midway though the book.
2.5 star

I loved the idea and setting - an abandoned ship turned mangrove forest and a dangerous witch coven. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t really work for me. The characters were not really formed - they seemed to all wash into each other and the story became very repetitive. Many may like this one, it just wasn’t for me. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.

This was a unique take on witches with a dark atmosphere and an isolated location set on a floating forest. The writing itself was immaculate, descriptive, and skillful. I would have liked a little more backstory on two of the characters in order to fully connect with them. Picking up traction within the first few pages, this was fast-paced with not a dull moment in sight. This was eerie and tragic, full of shocking moments and gruesome scenes that left its mark. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

It takes a lot for a book to genuinely scare me but The Night Birds had me sooo creeped out. I truly can’t think of a better more atmospheric setting than a floating ship wreck with a forest growing in it. Add in some witchiness and a hurricane-like storm and I’m IN.

I usually don’t read much horror but the cover and synopsis of this one drew me in. The ending made me remember what I usually steer clear of the genre (which is my fault!) but I still loved it overall!

I know I’m gonna be thinking of this creepy book for a while.

Thank to NetGalley for this ARC!

The Night Birds is thick with atmosphere. I was really sucked into this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

Christopher Golden's "The Night Birds" seizes you by the throat from page one and simply refuses to let go. This horror novel moves with such relentless momentum that I found myself physically tensing as I turned each page, completely captivated by the nightmare unfolding.

The premise drops us directly into chaos: Ruby's ordinary life shatters when a desperate stranger appears with an infant—supposedly Ruby's estranged sister's baby—claiming they're fleeing from murderers who will stop at nothing to reclaim the child. Their only sanctuary? A deteriorating half-sunken freighter ship in the middle of the gulf, operated by scientists conducting research. This isolated setting creates the perfect pressure cooker for horror, cutting our characters off from the world as danger closes in from all sides.

This novel goes beyond standard horror fare is Golden's masterful use of environmental elements. The steadily worsening weather mirrors the escalating tension, while the recurring image of those black birds—flying deliberately into houses, their wings beating against windows, their persistent knocking—created such visceral dread that I found myself glancing nervously at my own windows while reading.

This isn't your typical witch story either. Golden reimagines witch mythology in ways that feel both ancient and terrifyingly modern. The terror builds so effectively that during several particularly intense sequences, I had to set the book down and take deep breaths to slow my racing heart.

For horror fans seeking something that combines relentless pacing with genuinely unsettling imagery, "The Night Birds" delivers an experience that will haunt your dreams long after you've turned the final page.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, for my free e-book for review.

This was my third book by Christopher Golden, and while I wouldn't call it my favorite of his, I still found myself intrigued by the premise and swept up in the atmospheric tension - at least for a good portion of the book.

The premise is intriguing, but I must admit that after reading the synopsis, I was a little unsure about where Golden would go with the storyline. Books that deal with witches can be hit or miss for me, especially when they lean too hard into the tired "evil woman out to destroy men" trope. It's outdated, it's boring, and let's be real - it was never accurate to begin with. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see the author veer away from that direction. Instead, he pulled from Slavic folklore, which gave the supernatural elements a fresh and eerie twist without falling into the same old trap of demonizing powerful women for the sake of horror. This fresh angle definitely perked up my interest and added a creepy, authentic vibe.

The setting itself was probably my favorite part. Having spent nearly 17 years in Houston, Texas, I'm no stranger to tropical storms and hurricanes. The premise of people trapped on an abandoned, half-sunken ship during an almost hurricane while being stalked by supernatural beings is the stuff nightmares are made of. Golden captured that eerie, stormy atmosphere so vividly that I swear I could almost feel the wind howling and the waves crashing against the hull.

That said, there was one thing that bugged me about this, and that was that characters repeatedly went out onto the deck during an intense storm to "check on things" and/or "talk privately". Anyone who's been through a hurricane would never think that's a good idea. Each time someone did this, I kept thinking, "What the hell are they doing?" The storms are loud (especially with the waters of the gulf churning around you); this isn't exactly a safe or quiet place to hang out and have a chat.

As far as characters go, I honestly found the side characters to be more interesting than the lead. Charlie Book, our main guy, was okay but felt a bit too generic and too familiar for my liking. His romantic backstory with Ruby Cahill had potential, but it, too, seemed way too familiar - heartbreak, unresolved issues, and lingering tension. This entire plot point felt a little too copy/paste from a romance novel and, in my opinion, lacked any urgency. It wasn't awful, just a bit predictable.

Ruby, on the other hand, was more interesting, mainly because of the desperate situation she finds herself in. She's on the run with Johanna, a super mysterious character, and an infant who's supposedly being hunted by a coven. Johanna was intriguing because you couldn't quite figure out if she was genuinely scared or had something else up her sleeve. That uncertainty definitely kept the pages turning. Johanna is one of the more interesting characters in the book.

My main gripe with this one was that the book started to feel repetitive. The beginning was gripping and packed with suspense, but after a while, the constant cycle of hiding, confronting threats, and running around the ship started to lose its impact. By the end, I found myself wishing the book would wrap things up already.

Still, even with these criticisms, this isn't a terrible book. Golden is great at creating atmosphere and tension, and his writing is perfectly moody for a supernatural thriller. Plus, choosing Slavic folklore instead of the usual Western horror tropes was a smart and refreshing move. While this one might not top my list of Christopher Golden's books, it definitely kept me entertained. If you're in the mood for something stormy, spooky, and folklore-rich - and can overlook some eyebrow-raising decisions by the characters - it's worth giving this one a shot.

The Night Birds had an intriguing premise — a haunted ship and a dark, magical mystery — but ultimately fell a bit flat for me. The eerie, atmospheric setting had great potential, but I struggled to connect with the characters, who felt underdeveloped and difficult to root for. The plot, centered around protecting an infant from witches and black magic, was ambitious but sometimes felt overwhelming.

That said, I can see this appealing to fans of intense, paranormal horror. If you enjoy stories that lean into the dramatic and supernatural, this might be a great fit. While it didn’t fully land for me, I’m still glad I ventured outside my usual reading comfort zone.

Unfortunately this just wasn't for me. I thought that the books i read by him last year was pretty great but this one just missed the mark for me. Great concept, but not well executed. Felt over explained and boring, surprisingly?

Despite having not-loved (hated?) the other 2 books of his I’ve read, I decided to go ahead and get this author’s latest from NetGalley. If I recall, he’s the definition of Great Concept The End. Future Jen: Don’t do this a fourth time. You just don’t gel with this dude. This was the worst one yet.

The great concept this time: an abandoned freighter that has become a ‘floating forest.’ A team of researchers working on it plus some people hiding out from something. And supernatural shit.

My complaints are the same as they were with the other books: fumbled a great concept, stated the same thing 16 different times (like, yeah, I’m dumb, but even I don’t need you to summarize things every other page), not scary, dry, dull, and honestly dumb as shit.

Note to Future Jen: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES are you to read anything else by this author (unless Claire does it first and says it’s worth it). Don’t get sucked in by all-concept nothing-else again.