I am a new and satisfied fan of Stephen Graham Jones. This slow-burning horror/literary fiction gave me such an in-depth look at the culture, history and daily life of four Blackfeet males who have a long history with each other. This look into the beliefs and actions of the men was fascinating to me. The writing really drew me in and created a spooky, chilling vibe that stuck with me long after I finished the book. There were some graphic & bloody scenes that are not for the faint of heart, and the wrath of the Elk Head Woman was definitely on the scary side. I loved the relationships that we saw develop over the 10-year timeline of the book. This is a perfect read for the spooky season!

DNF @28%

I was provided an e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

This book is well written and interesting, it just isn't my cup of coffee right now. I'm trying not to force myself through books I'm not enjoying, as that will only bog down my overall reading and make it a chore to do so.

If the blurb of this one looks good, I'd recommend giving it a try. It'll hit the right chords for someone, just didn't for me this time around.

#ItsNotYouItsMe

This book is CREEPY in all the good ways. A thriller that deals with the plight of the indigenous people in America both on and off the reservations as well as the bonds of childhood. These 4 friends did something terrible as young men and now something is here for revenge, but will it drive them mad first?! A great book for this Halloween season.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the review copy!

THIS BOOK WAS GREAT! I loved this story so much. It gave me all feels I was looking for. I could see reading this in October and but I couldn't wait so I had to read when it when I got approved! This plot and story were done great and so easy to follow. The characters were written very well! It did have a creepy aspect so those always keep me on the edge of my seat.

I highly recommend this read!

Ten years ago, four friends from the Blackfeet tribe broke the rules of tradition. They thought they’d left that behind them, but they’re about to find out what their actions will cost as, one by one, revenge catches up with them. Will they keep outrunning the sins of their past, or will they be consumed by them?

This book was both absolutely horrifying and completely entrancing. With every single chapter, I became more and more mesmerized by the story, even though it scared me to the core.

I am still digesting everything contained within the pages of this book. From the generational effects of genocidal trauma to the erasure of tribal traditions to the unknowable nature of fate, there is so much in this story to unravel. Stephen Graham Jones has crafted something that stops you dead in your tracks. At almost every turn, I found myself holding my breath hoping against hope that what I could see coming wasn’t coming, and when it arrived, it was so much worse than I had envisioned. This author takes horror to the next level, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I think that the interwoven nature of social commentary in this book is what makes it all the more horrific. Each character’s part of the story imparts something different. Ricky’s story is rooted in the continued racism against indigenous folks in the United States. Lewis imparts a sense of being unmoored by a disconnect between many indigenous folks today and their heritage, something that was systematically attacked by white folks. Cassidy’s and Gabe’s part in the story highlights the generational weight of trauma, how healing isn’t just about pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, how those kinds of deep-rooted wounds combined with continued poverty, addiction, and lack of resources can break your community all the way down to its foundation.

The Elk Head Woman is terrifying. The vision of her still sends chills down my spine. But her presence in this tale only highlights the existing challenges imposed on indigenous communities primarily by systemic racism. The combination of the two things creates a story I’m not apt to forget any time soon.

Deeply disturbing environmental horror. The Elk Woman gave me chills and I appreciated the integration of the discrimination of Natives into the horror itself. This book was a true winner for me, perfect for gray, windy fall days, and I will 100% be diving into this author’s backlist. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Graham-Jones is a legend. He has such a command on his craft that you have no choice but to feel what he wants you to feel. There are passages here that made me cringe, smile, and anger. His acute descriptions of events and peoples is stellar - and effectively put to use here. You will find NO better horror author working today.

I tried very hard to read this book but I just cannot get into it. The writing to me is beautiful but hard to comprehend at the same time. Perhaps at a later date I will try again but what I did read really doesn't have me interested.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy of my ARC..

The Only Good Indians was so incredibly hyped up. I was almost afraid to read it because of that.
I was extremely invested in the first half, but then when it did a character switch, I found myself flipping ahead. While I appreciated the socio-political vibe of the Native American characters, I often found it heartbreaking which I'm sure was the author's intent. The ending brought it full circle and was devastating. Had it not been so cut in the middle with the character's switch, I probably would have been more immersed

I'm afraid I found this near enough incomprehensible. I have no doubt it will do well as I have seen plenty of buzz around it, but it's not for me.

This was an amazing read. As an indigenous woman from Brazil, it's heartwarming reading a horror book written and about native peoples.
The pace of the book is very tense sometimes and very fast and crazy at others. The conclusion was just perfect.
The more I think about it, the more I love it!

Stephen Graham Jones is one of the very greatest writers—horror or otherwise—of his generation and this book represents him at top form. I can’t wait to read this book again and again, finding new beauties and horrors every time.

This book took away my sleep. As always, Stephen Graham Jones was brilliant and terrifying, with characters that feel real and prose that feels like stream of consciousness. The voice is so strong and so distinct. Going to have nightmares for a while.

I struggled with the writing style of this one, and I can't figure out what it was that was difficult for me. I was intrigued enough throughout the book, but still felt a disconnect to the writing. Definitely more of a piece of literary fiction than horror, although there were some creepy scenes.

"The Only Good Indians" is a terrific and tense read. It started off very literary, which was different and the voice was unique. There was a vague sense of dread and uncertainty. As the story started to unfold, I became less intrigued and the story became more contrived.
I appreciated the insights of Native American folklore, experiences, and perspectives. I think that it is an astonishing novel, but it wasn't my ultimate cup of tea.

4.5 *s. The Only Good Indians is part social commentary on Indigenous life and experiences and part gasp-inducing horror. Lewis and 3 of his friends are haunted by an elk hunting trip gone wrong that occurred 10 years before when they teenagers. I alternated listening to the audio and reading this book. At first I found the transitions from chapter to chapter a bit confusing, but this resolved once I knew the characters. This book had one of the most horror inducing moments that I've experienced. Immediately after finishing this book, I was fortunate enough to listen to Stephen Graham Jones at a virtual Strand author event. I promptly ordered a copy of this book for my shelf and another one of his novellas. Count me in as a fan!

Written in a tone that feels so casual, like someone telling you a wild story. A "you won't believe what happened to me," kind of story.
.
It's one that starts as mystery, a mystery that is solved about half way through. Take a seat for the rest of the book as you watch that mystery play out, and friends— it will entertain you.

I LOVE IT! I am definitely not a horror fan, I have to say. A horror story written by an indigenous Blackfeet author? I. AM. HERE. FOR. THAT.

Although I had a hard time focusing with all the blood and (let's say) aggressiveness of the story, as the tale of the four friends and the hunting trip gone wrong progresses I was more and more engaged with it. I feel like the rhythm of the book picks up as we the readers learn more about the story, and sometimes the events being narrated try to catch up with the characters thoughts and it speeds up everything. Not complaining though, I found that really interesting and something that really worked with the plot.

And the plot!!! Whoa... I am also not a huge fan of revenge, but I was really intrigued by this one. Finally I revenge I can get behind of: Nature's revenge. I loved how the author incorporated indigenous identity issues, a little bit of the shocks between the older and younger generation issues, and specially our relations to our relatives and land. As an indigenous person myself, I was intrigued by the references o Sacajawea and Crazy Horse, as well as the storytelling format that got me thinking about stories and legends being passed on from elders.

The ending was incredible and one of my all time favourite parts of a book is the acknowledgements because I believe they have the ability to set a new tone to the story previously read. In this case, it made me a bigger fan of SGJ and interesting in reading his other works soon.

The Only Good Indians is the story of four Blackfeet Indians who have illegally fired their guns into a heard of Elk they are illegally hunting on and what happens to them 10 years later. I don't want to give anymore of the plot away than that because I want you to enjoy this story as much as I did.

This story had me hooked from the first page and turning pages well into the night. I found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading it and anxiously waiting for the chance to pick it back up again. I enjoyed learning more about the Blackfeet and Indigenous culture that is all throughout this book. The creepy factor and building of tension is amazing, as is the pacing. The characters are well rounded and I felt like I really got to know who they are. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it!

I appreciate Gallery, Pocket Books and Saga Press, the author Steven Graham Jones, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ten years ago four young American Indigenous men went hunting in an area they technically weren't allowed to, and something happened that has somewhat literally come back to haunt them. I assumed going into this book that the story would be about four men going hunting on the tenth year anniversary of their last hunt, only to find that something is hunting them. That is not what this about at all, which is a good thing.

As one can tell from above, I went into The Only Good Indians with little idea of what it was about, and I think this was ultimately a good thing, but even if I had a thorough idea of what the premise was I would have still been shocked and confused by the twisting nature of the plot. This book more than once shocked me, including one disturbing scene in which I may have mumbled "no" to myself a lot while sitting in a public park.

I think I'm not going to say much more about it except that the author does a great job of making the reader understand the point of view characters and empathize with them even as they do awful things to each other. The book has a lot to say about cycles of violence and revenge, as well as about the results of settler colonialism that still linger to this day, and underpin large parts of north american society.