Stephen Graham Jones knows how to set a stage. It is a little on the long side and slower paced than some of his other horror reads so far but it certainly sets a creepy and heavy atmosphere. But outside of the horror, it's a genuinely good character story with complexity and depth. It touches on so many themes like cultural identity, survival, revenge, and resilience.

Excellent as always!

The best novel from Stephen Graham Jones yet. This novel is a departure from Jones' previous books which tended to focus on younger protagonists with a rambling sense of inner dialogue and I loved every second of the story told from a more formal and structured narrator. It's got a slower start but the building uncertainty and creeping sense of danger hanging out in the background throughout the progression are extremely engaging. I could not stop reading this and I was desperate to see where everything was heading and how all the unresolved mysteries would crash together at once. Even if you haven't ever read from this author before I would recommend it highly.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is Stephen Graham Jones doing a rodeo with vampires—bloody, brisk, and wicked‑smart. Think: dusty Montana, sharp Indigenous humor, and a body count that’d make my Fitbit give up. Reads fast, bites hard, leaves you laughing and side‑eyeing your campfire. Five outta five Zero Sprites. And if you’ve got weekend plans, clear ‘em—this thing gulps you down quicker than I demolish a bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Just don’t blame me when you start judging every sunset for optimal vampire ambush lighting.

I cried like six times. Heavy on the gore and emotion and the long-steeping sadness, but oddly light on the scares? I think I was just too sad to be scared, honestly. But I did genuinely love this. 4.5/5



Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This vampire novel offers a fresh and suspenseful take on the genre, centering around an Indigenous vampire targeting buffalo hunters on the frontier. The tension builds steadily, keeping you hooked without relying too heavily on gore or jump scares. What really stands out is the author’s use of dueling perspectives—each character is given a distinct voice and motivation, adding depth and nuance to the story. It’s not just a tale of horror, but also one of vengeance, identity, and survival. As a companion read to the recent film Sinners, this book complements that gritty tone while carving out its own unique space in the genre. It’s atmospheric, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in both folklore and history. A great choice for fans of horror looking for something a little different and a little smarter than your average vampire fare.

This historical horror novel wasn’t what I was expecting but it was incredible. This isn’t like anything I’ve read before and I’m looking forward to reading more by SGJ. My one critique is SGJ’s verbiage throughout the novel. I found myself re-reading chapters because it didn’t make sense to me the first time around. That being said, I still throughly enjoyed reading this.

This book punched me in the gut and took my breath away. Stephen Graham Jones is a legend and this work is a true masterclass of historical horror. The title and premise are intriguing and layered onto the brutal history of the United States. This book is devastating in so many ways it’s difficult to put into words. There were several lines that will always remain with me. One of which is the following:

“What I am is an Indian who can’t die. I’m the worst dream America ever had.”

Highly recommend with the caveat that it is not an easy one to stomach. The true monsters not being the vampires but the invaders who stole an existing nation to form their own country.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What an incredible book, I honestly have no words. A masterpiece of vengeance and power, this book is dense in the best way possible.

3.5★
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephan Graham Jones is a tough novel to review. On one hand, I don't think his writing style is for me (I've listened to The Only Good Indians on audio and felt the same). It's slow, reads old fashioned, and I found some of the transitioning to be choppy. There was a lot to process and many words to look up. It took me a lot longer than normal to read this book for that reason. I had to go back and reread paragraphs to fully comprehend.

On the other hand, I'm obsessed how dark and gory this book is. The body horror was top notch and there was a lot of strange and original horrors that kept me entertained. I love the attention to detail and the story itself was structured beautifully. Each POV really captures the voice of the characters.

Although I read this as an e-book, personally with the way this book is written I'm not sure I would recommend this on audio. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend any of his books on audio because of the style.

I don't believe Stephan Graham Jones is an author for everyone, but if you are already familiar with his work or don't mind trying something slow moving but new in a horror novel, I would definitely recommend trying his work out.

Thank you Net galley and Saga Press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is unlike any horror novel I’ve ever read. The writing is immersive and captivating, pulling me deep into the story. I found myself both fearful of Good Stab and deeply sympathetic to his desire for revenge and his struggle to navigate this new existence through death. It’s such a unique and powerful blend of historical fiction, Native American history, and vampire lore.

Good Stab’s confessions were horrifying, heartbreaking, and completely addictive—I couldn’t stop reading. My only critique is that the language was a bit challenging at times. It occasionally pulled me out of the story, as I had to reread certain paragraphs to fully grasp what was happening. That said, it never stopped me from continuing.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Buffalo Hunter Hunter and found it to be a haunting, original read.

Stephen Graham Jones is a Native American writer from West Texas who is a particularly prolific writer of horror stories and graphic novels. This tale covers the transformation of Good Stab, a young Native American, into a vampire during the era of the buffalo hunts. Most of Graham’s books deal with supernatural elements in nature and the Native American culture, so his writing is very unique. I met the author at a book signing in Albuquerque and he is quite modest for all his accomplishments. He has kicked quite a few doors open in American literature but does not want to be involved in Native American political agendas like reparations etc. He teaches at University of Colorado Boulder. He has come a long way from the wheat fields of West Texas.

It took me a bit to get into a flow with this one. The detail is amazing. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Historical fiction plus vampires was something new to me but I really enjoyed it. I just read his book I Was A Teenage Slasher so I was excited to read this and it did not disappoint. It kept me engaged and I finished it in one day.

Buffalo Hunter Hunter is one of many novels I've read from the masterclass Stephen Graham Jones. It might not be my absolute favorite of his but there is something special here. Plus, like so many of his other novels, it demands to be read.

Weasel Plume
I never knew you but GOD I miss you…
I couldn’t said it better myself this book makes you wish it was true. Revenge on the founding fathers for what so many of them did to the indigenous people is enough to give anyone white guilt. My heart breaks over the treatment the injustice and deaths
While three persons tore out the heart of Good Stabs people SGJ tore out my heart. This book is so good while the pacing is incredibly slow around halfway you can no longer put it down. I’m beginning to believe the man can not write a bad book 5 stars

I was very excited to read this one but just ended up not loving it. The writing was slow and hard to get through. I felt like the use of native terms added to the authenticity but made it hard to follow at times. There were also so many characters that were difficult to keep straight and ultimately not important to the story.

I think this book definitely has an audience I'm just not it.

Unlike any vampire horror I've ever read before because that's just how Stephen Graham Jones crafts a novel.

I found this much easier to read, somehow, than Only Good Indians in that the gore was easier, again somehow, to read.

The story is so incredibly rich, detailed, and well crafted. It even took my by surprise when the plot began to twist, which is a real thrill.

You should read this if you like horror in general, historical fiction, vampire stories, or really good genre bending fiction.

I don’t even know how to talk about this one. It’s a revenge story, it’s a beautiful work of epistolary fiction, and it’s one of those few instances of very different vampires that work. It’s gory and heartbreaking and I’m not used to horror making me feel things so strongly. It’s only April but The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is definitely in the running for best of 2025!

While horror is not my genre, the story of an indigenous vampire confessing to an aging Lutheran pastor with a less godly past and recorded in his journals to be discovered generations later by one of the clergyman's ancestors is compelling for readers of all types of fiction. The historical facts that serve as backdrop to this story are the true horror story.

True to Indigenous Lore and Darkly Gripping

This book is a masterful blend of dark horror and old west grit, reminiscent of the eerie atmosphere found in Alex Grecian's work. What truly sets it apart is how authentically it draws from Indigenous lore and tradition—respectful, rich, and immersive.

The storytelling format is excellent, with a structure that keeps you engaged from start to finish. The pacing hits just right—not too fast, not too slow—and each of the three narrative voices is compelling in its own way. They weave together beautifully, adding depth and tension in all the right places.

A standout for fans of genre-crossing horror with cultural weight and western edge.