Holy Moly that was intense!
I feel like this book started off a little slow but quickly picked up and then we were zooming!
I went into this one completely blind and the cover is all that I had seen and is what drew me in…. The story though is why I stayed!
We have witches and blood magic and sacrifices and all the things! I loved the new take on the witches in this book… it was unlike any I have seen or read before and I loved it!
I highly recommend this book! It was so good!

Now I want to review the audiobook which is what I was gifted by NetGalley and the publisher.
I wasn’t a fan… the narrators didn’t change up the voices between the characters very much which could be looked over but coupled with the book not telling you who is speaking made it very hard to follow along… it took me out of the story more than I would have liked and because of that I just wasn’t a fan of the audiobook.

That being said I really enjoyed the story itself and so it still gets 4 stars for me!

A chilling tale of witches and darkness, human sacrifices, lost love, and a mangrove forest on a derelict freighter. The Night Birds was a fun, creepy ride that horror lovers will enjoy.

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 Spotify Audiobooks for this digital audio e-arc.*

Thank you netgally for the arc this is my first book from Christopher Golden .I thought it was well written .good character if your a fan of horror this one's for you well done .

Narrator did an excellent job with the story Everything flowed well and was very engaging. This was not my favorite from the author but the story was interesting. Will recommend.

Such a creepy read! Starts out with a bang and continues until the end. Intense storms already scare me, so take that plus birds plus witches and it is CREEPY. I've enjoyed all the books I've read by Christopher Golden, and this is no exception.

This book! Witches (sort of, just older), a baby, exes who have unfinished issues, and an abandoned ship all made this book extremely intriguing. It was fast paced, and the ending kept me asking, "who would survive?" Ruby and Book had a relationship once, but it ended in heartache for both of them. Now, Ruby needs Book's help to keep a baby and another woman alive. As their adventure unfolds and Book learns what is really going on, the action really picks up. I love how Christopher Golden takes monsters to a whole different level in his books. He doesn't just adhere to the mainstream versions of them (in this case "witches"), but rather, he puts his own spin on them. This book was an edge of your seat ride, not knowing how it would end with so many important people at play.

I have never read a book so fast! Between the fantastic narration and the descriptive prose, this novel is one you can’t put down!

The story revolves around Charlie Book, his coworkers, and a magic that felt so dark and so real that I kept telling myself “one more chapter”.

I absolutely love an audiobook with multiple perspectives and narrators and The Night Birds does it so well!! 10/10.

(2.5 Stars rounded up to 3 because the one narrator (Sean Patrick Hopkins) was really good.

Thank you to #NetGalley for providing the audiobook version of this book for reading and review.

This book, for me, was a little underwhelming. It reminded me a lot of Wendig's Miriam Black series... but not nearly as good. The plot was interesting and the setting was cool sounding, but I had a hard time visualizing it as it was described throughout the book, and maybe seemed to change from time to time.

I thought the characters were mostly flat, and didn't really seem to have any motivation behind their actions. In fact, I think the three most well-formed characters were basically extras, or throw-aways who changed in uncharacteristic ways when needed to push the story along.

Charlie Book lives a quiet life working for the Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife living mostly on board the Christabel, a half-sunken ship that has been converted for research. One day, while preparing to head back to the Christabel, Charlie finds his ex-girlfriend Ruby is there waiting..... with another woman and an infant in tow. As a storm rages on its way towards their area, Ruby asks Charlie to help them shelter during the storm, but he'll soon find out it's not just the storm they're running from.

I really enjoyed this one. I've read a lot by this author and atmospheric is kind of his MO. When read Ararat or Road of Bones and you can FEEL the cold in your bones. When you read All Hallows the spooky fall vibes are strong. For The House of Last Resort, the creepy house in an isolated town has its own nefarious feeling. For that reason, I had high expectations for this book and man did it deliver. The half-sunken ship with its mangrove roots, huge crabs, and wild birds makes such a crazy setting to begin with, but the addition of an incoming storm turns everything into a creepy, half gone place. I absolutely loved it.

This story with its witches and craziness would generally be too much for me but somehow the setting grounded it a bit and the main characters worked pretty well so it never got so off the wall that I had to put it down. It very much reminded me of Doctor Sleep in that way, where some of it is kind of wild but the writing is good and holds it all together well. Definitely another great one for fans of Golden, but also highly recommended for Stephen King fans for sure.

Golden has been on a roll since Ararat blew up, and especially the last few years with Road of Bones, All Hallows, and The House of Last Resort. The Night Birds definitely continues the streak. A slow burn that pays off with a huge climax in a very original setting.

Thanks to St Martins Press, Spotify Audiobooks, and NetGalley for an early audio copy.

Audiobook Review: The Night Birds by Christopher Golden

I received this audiobook from NetGalley, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to discover new authors and share my thoughts.

This was my first book by Christopher Golden, and while it was an interesting experience, it wasn't quite my cup of tea. The Night Birds is a horror novel set aboard the Christabel, a half-sunken 19th-century freighter off the coast of Galveston, Texas. The ship has become overgrown with mangrove trees, creating a unique ecosystem known as the "Floating Forest." The story follows Charlie Book, a scientist living aboard the Christabel, who becomes entangled in a supernatural conflict when his ex-girlfriend, Ruby, arrives seeking refuge from a coven of witches pursuing a mysterious infant. ​

The narrators did a commendable job, and I appreciated the use of both male and female voices for the respective main characters. Their performances added depth to the characters and enhanced the overall listening experience.​

While the premise was intriguing, I found that the story didn't fully resonate with me. The atmospheric setting and supernatural elements were well-crafted, but the plot progression and character development didn't captivate me as much as I had hoped.​

Thank you again to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. I'm always grateful for the chance to explore new authors and expand my literary horizons.

I need a drink after reading this. Golden's writing is moody and immersive, perfect for fans who love a non-traditional gothic setting and occult mysteries. I would get lost from time to time on which POV I was reading but I would find my way back quickly. A solid, haunting read for anyone craving a witchy tale.

Thank you, NetGalley and publisher, for this audio ARC. I have read some of this author's other books, but this one was just awful. I couldn't get into it or follow along with the story.

Book and the rest of the his team at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have been studing the habitat of the Christabel, a 19th century freighter that lies half-sunken in Gulf waters, just off the shore of Galveston. With a hurricane approaching everyone but Book stays at various places around Galvenston, Texas. Book is going bact to the Christabel to wait out the storm. On his way to his truck, Book runs into Ruby his ex-girlfriend May, her sister Bella"s girlfriend , and Aiden, Bella's infant son. Ruby and May are on the run from a coven of witches. The coven needs Aiden to complete a ritual. Book , Ruby, and May are willing to do anything in order to keep Aiden safe and alive. This was a fast paced book that will keep you on your toes until the very end. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for allowing me to listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook.

The Night Birds

Excellent narration by:
Sean Patrick Hopkins &
Patricia Santomasso

I really enjoy novels with a male and female narrator. Both made this a pleasure to listen.

Also, the cover art is very creepy, just like this novel.

The main character & his team of scientists are working onboard an abandoned freighter, just offshore of Galveston beach. The wreck is being reclaimed by Mangrove trees, the ocean and its shore critters.
Add in an incoming hurricane for extra atmosphere and isolation.

Once an ex-girlfriend of the MC shows up desperately pleading for help, the action begins. Lots of crazy situations, gore filled transformations, evil birds and witches makes for a thrilling story.

A unique take on witches is appreciated and the best part!
I was also impressed by how much the other characters personalities and loyalties affected the ending.

If you enjoy eerily scary people and witches you’ll love this!
But do keep an eye out for Birds.


I’m grateful to #NetGalley & #TheNightBirds for allowing me an opportunity to listen and enjoy this audiobook. All thoughts and comments are my own.

4.5 Ok, this one starts light and then it goes creepy and full gore and omg the imagery. Witches, horns growing with candle tips, sacrifices, and perhaps the only thing that is keeping them safe from the coven and from the witches taking the baby is a large iron ship. Witches turning into menacing birds... Very dark, sometimes violent, Bella is a great evil character; some of her arguments make a point, and her sister is trying to protect her nephew. I liked the audiobook, I think it works well with this narrator. Plus, urban supernatural witches that give us goosebumps. Warning sensitive triggers towards the loss of a child.
Awesome cover.

Charlie Book has a cool job. During his work for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Book has been living aboard and studying the Christabel, a 19th century ship that is lying half-sunken in the Gulf. Despite being offshore, trees grow through the boat and it's full of wildlife. As a nasty storm closes in on the Texas coast, Book's ex, Ruby Cahill shows up with another woman and the son of her now-deceased sister. They need a place to hide, and Ruby knew no one would look for her with him. But the problem is what's chasing her isn't natural...and they WILL find the baby that they are seeking.

My first title by the author, The House of Last Resort, was a HUGE 5 stars. I absolutely loved it. But his other titles that I've read since, this and All Hallows have been fine, but just not as good. Not to say this wasn't a wild story - I loved the idea of a ship in the water that is being reclaimed by nature and will hopefully be turned into a little park. What a great setting! But saving the baby from being a sacrifice for witches...it just didn't do it for me. I was interested, but not invested, if that makes sense. But I do have one more of his titles on the shelf, so we'll see about that one...

My Rating: 4*

Charlie Book decides he’s going to wait out the hurricane on a stranded freighter he’s been studying for the Texas Wildlife department. Though the storm is expected to blow itself out, being on the water has its own risks and the stranded freighter with its mangrove trees feels like the place he wants to be. However, his ex-girlfriend shows up with a baby in tow and a mysterious woman as well. As the storm rages outside, a struggle for survival starts happening on the inside of the ship.

Ruby and a woman named Mae (though I think the summary on Goodreads says Johanna), are seeking asylum and a place no one would expect them to go. Ruby knows Book works on the ship and feels as though they can use the isolation and the lack of connections to an old ex of Ruby’s. Nevertheless, a coven of witches seems to be after the women and the child they carry and now they all have to try and survive the storm and the witches who hunt them.

Based on the cover alone, I thought this might be a ghost ship book which I was pretty excited for. Yet when we dived into the thick of it, I discovered it was a witchy book and was even more excited. I do wish we had a bit of ghost and paranormal on top of the other, but it was a good story. I did feel there was a lot of talking for the people on the ship and not a lot of “doing”.

Charlie Book lives and works aboard the Christabel, a half-sunken ship located off shore in Galveston, studying a growth of mangrove trees that have made the ship their home. On a dangerously stormy night, his ex Ruby Cahill appears along with a woman named Johanna and an infant, looking for safety and shelter on the Christabel. Soon Charlie, Ruby, Johanna, and Charlie’s research team becomes involved in a struggle to save the baby from supernatural forces. This dark paranormal horror read is told from multiple points of view and the audiobook is well-characterized. It’s perfect for fans of the supernatural and of atmospheric settings.