Christina Henry has once again crafted an incredibly beautiful, dark, and atmospheric novel that contains both an excellent, compelling story and a deep and thoughtful message.

I have been enjoying Henry's books, especially her darker fantasy, for many years now, and I was absolutely thrilled to see that she decided to take on the Headless Horseman/Sleepy Hollow story. It was both what I expected and not what I expected, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Her characters were incredibly well-written and had great development, and I thought Ben was a perfect protagonist. He had many immense struggles that he had to learn to work through, and he was also very relatable in a variety of ways. Her writing is so quietly haunting and expressive and I can never quite tear my eyes from the page. I really can never recommend Christina Henry's books enough, and Horseman is no exception to that!

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for an advanced copy of this book!

Horseman is a story set in the town of Sleepy Hollow. After some mysterious deaths that point to The Headless Horseman, Ben takes it upon himself to find out what is happening.

It is creepy and atmospheric, perfect for this time of year. It has some slow parts throughout, but it picked up the pace near the end. It had a lot of adults bullying and fighting with children, which I wasn’t a fan of.

I enjoyed this book there was a lot to like. The authors style was easy to read and I found myself able to see the scenes in my head clearly. The characters were fun to follow and enjoyable. Would recommend this

A spooky, eerie, scary read for October -- but it's so much more than just gore and terrifying events. The characters are what makes this horror novel truly stand out. Read it and see! Highly recommended.

How familiar are you with the legend of Sleepy Hollow? You don't have to know much to be pulled into this story. There's a twist in the first few chapters and it just builds from there.

It's idyllic with something dark beneath the surface and it feels that way! Not in a paranoid, no-one-trusts-each-other kind of way, more like sly nods...because everyone's aware of it. Our main character is the grandchild of Katrina Van Tassel and they are very captivating. Plus, we get a continuation of the question 'What happened to Ichabod Crane?'

I liked the way it ended but I probably wouldn't have guessed. It wraps up nicely and once you know how everything fits together, it seems like we should have known all along...a good, spooky read.

Darkly atmospheric and full of stunning prose, Horseman by Christina Henry is another one of her classic twists on an old favorite, this time with a spooky edge. This time, Sleepy Hollow and the legend of the headless horseman has been brought to vivid life, with a subtle way of transporting the reader to the rural New York of two centuries before. Katrina and Brom are made real from page one; indeed, every character in this beloved legend has become a complex and intricately shaded person in Henry's skilled hands. Her gift for imaginative storytelling, while still remaining true to the soul of the classic tale, is again a delight for readers of all ages. Somehow, her writing manages to move along quickly and revel in languorous prose, simultaneously. This is an essential addition to your spooky season TBR.

There is nothing more entertaining than when an author takes a classic tale and adds a unique spin. Horseman: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow takes place approximately 20 years after Ichabod Crane and his encounter with the Headless Horseman. Christina Henry takes readers on a journey through small-town superstitions against the backdrop of eerie forests and what lurks in the darkness.

The MC, Bente, is the granddaughter of Brom and Katrina and identifies as a male and goes by Ben. He is a mixture of strength, naivety and growth as his encounters with the unknown take him deeper into a past riddled with half-truths and tall tales. As something starts slaughtering the local kids, he is thrust into the middle of not only saving his friends and family but standing up for who he is and what he wants from life. A powerful message intermingled behind a classic that I found was well crafted.

Though this is not a story I would say is for young kids there were times I felt the characters came off younger than I would’ve liked. Some of the storyline is focused on the buildup and gets a bit slow when Ben is narrating his thoughts and feelings. Overall, I enjoyed this fun addition to an urban legend I loved as a kid. I think Henry did a wonderful job recapturing the atmosphere of Hollow and making this her own .

Thank you, Berkley Publishing, for the gifted digital copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts are my own

I'm a solid 2.5 stars on this one. The Sleepy Hollow retelling was interesting, but didn't entirely feel "real" if that makes sense? Overall, it felt like a book that wanted to do something and then shoehorned the story into that something. I also wasn't very compelled to read it after beginning- the plot just felt stagnant in many places. I really felt like the entire 3rd part was unnecessary and dragged the book out beyond what was interesting and entering into a "let me tell you everything I implied earlier" aspect by the author.

Also, the whole time I felt like I'd read the "dont go into the forest there's spooky things there" part of this book. I finally figured out it's really similar in that way to Erin Craig's "Small Favors" which I preferred. Obviously, they both came out the same year so it's just coincidence that both books are using this plot element, but still it just stuck in my mind having read the other book already.

This is my fourth Henry read and there is no mistaking how talented she is in bringing us a darker version of stories we already know and love (i.e., Alice, Captain Hook, Little Red Riding Hood, etc...). But what happens when she takes and already spooky and terrifying legend as the one we know in Sleepy Hollow?

Labeled as a retelling, it actually takes place a couple of decades(ish) after the original story and we get to see what happens after Ichabod Crane's disappearance. And there are non-believers - (SHUN THE NON BELIEVERS!) However, wouldn't you start believing if bodies, human and other, started showing up, head and handless? Ben's curiosity is QUITE piqued and I must say, I was with him 1000% of the way! I also loved seeing trans representation as Ben is a 14 year old teen who identifies as a boy... even if his mom is determined to make him into the lady he never wanted to be.
Henry once again uses her immense talent to expand upon a legendary tale. Just in time for those who start Spooky Season now (as opposed to all year like I have it 🤣). But apart from the tale we already have a sense of, we also receive a story of family loyalty, acceptance, friendships and adventure. For this, I think it was brilliantly written. For my particularly macabre taste, I wished it had more spooky/horror and less family dynamics. Also, I'd love to see an own voices review of this re the trans rep.

While not my favorite Henry to date, this definitely packs a pumpkin punch! Hold on to your heads, folks! 😉

I had been looking for something with the perfect spooky Halloween vibe, and this was it! I read it all in one sitting because I just could not put it down. It kept me so interested and on edge waiting to see what would happen next. Also, it does a good job featuring LGBTQ+ themes! I’ve already recommended this to both my coworkers and customers.

I have been a fan of Christina Henry's fairy tale retellings for a while now. Some land better than others with me, this was one that I couldn't put down. I loved this version of Sleepy Hollow and Icabod Crane. This book focuses on the transgendered grandson of Brom Bones and Katrina Van Tassel. Many years have passed since the events of the night that Icabod Crane was scared out of town. Henry does an amazing job creating the town of Sleepy Hollow where something sinister lies within the woods. The way that the old tale weaves into this new telling is beautifully done. I would recommend for those who like fairytale retellings on the dark side or anyone who wants a horror story that you won't have to read with the lights on. This books is a good balance of thriller/horror genre.

2.5/5 stars
This started off as a 5 stars read. The first 60-70% was brilliant! I was so engrossed and invested in the story and characters. It was atmospheric, the writing style was very easy to get into, and it flowed so well.... up until the first villainous monologue (there's actually 2) which entirely took me out of the story. I thought the story should have ended after the resolutions of the first but no... no... no... it kept going even though I was losing interest by the minute. Then to my surprise there was a 2nd villainous monologue.... WHY!? This story went from spooky and entertaining to having me skim read it just to finish. I hate where it went but I loved where it started.

"Once, a long time ago, I’d stepped off the track close to the deep part of the forest. I remembered Sander going mad with anxiety, calling for me to come back, but I only wanted to know why nobody in the Hollow went any farther than that point. I hadn’t seen any witches, or goblins, or the Horseman. But I had heard someone, someone whispering my name, and I’d felt a touch on my shoulder, something cold as the wind that came in autumn. I’d wanted to run then, to sprint terrified back to the farm, but Sander was watching, so I’d quietly turned and stepped back on the track and the cold touch moved away from me."

Washington Irving’s short story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has been read by Americans since it was first published in 1819. What we remember most about it is the image of The Headless Horseman. There is some question about who this very un-pedestrian equestrian might be, a late Hessian, perhaps, whose cranium had had a close encounter with a cannonball, who was eager for revenge, and searched relentlessly for his lost noggin. Or maybe a canny wooer (one Abraham “Brom Bones” Van Brunt) of a local lass looking to frighten the superstitious competition out of town with a bit of over-the-top theatrical horseplay. The story about the horseman had predated Brom and Ichabod vying for the hand (and property) of Katrina Van Tassel, so, was it a real ghost story or just a hugely successful prank?

In Christina Henry’s Horseman we are brought back to Irving’s one-horse town, Sleepy Hollow, two generations on. Brom and Katrina are grandparents now, managing their land, doing nicely with their farm. Brom remains a big man, both literally and figuratively, a powerful figure in local affairs, as well as someone still able to take on conflict kinetically when needed. Ben, our first-person narrator, Brom and Katrina’s fourteen-year-old grandchild, admires Brom completely, would like nothing more than to grow up to be as much like him as humanly possible.

Ben and a friend are playing in the woods one day when they hear a group of riders pass, Brom in the lead. Ben is desperate to see what’s up, even though the group is headed to a part of the woods that is considered way too spooky to venture into, with good reason.

"Just beyond the circle of men was a boy—or rather, what was left of a boy. He lay on his side, like a rag doll that’s been tossed in a corner by a careless child, one leg half-folded. A deep sadness welled up in me at the sight of him lying there, forgotten rubbish instead of a boy.
Something about this sight sent a shadow flitting through the back of my mind, the ghost of a thought, almost a memory. Then it disappeared before I could catch it… Both the head and hands seemed to have been removed inexpertly. There were ragged bits of flesh and muscle at the wrist, and I saw a protruding bit of broken spine dangling where Cristoffel’s head used to be."

And the game is on. Had this bully of a teen been cut down by a violent spectre or was there a more flesh-laden killer on the loose? There is a second mystery, as well. What’s the deal with the “ghost of a thought, almost a memory” that Ben experiences while witness to the carnage? But wait, there’s more. There were mysteries left over from Washington Irving’s original story, such as was it a ghostly headless Hessian who had driven Ichabod Crane out of town, and what had actually happened to Crane after he fell off his horse and vanished?

Irving makes a point of the superstitious bent of the locals in the Hollow.
"…the place still continues under the sway of some witching power, that holds a spell over the minds of the good people, causing them to walk in a continual reverie. They are given to all kinds of marvellous beliefs, are subject to trances and visions, and frequently see strange sights, and hear music and voices in the air". - from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

A belief in the supernatural, justified or not, prompts the locals to believe the worst (including the W-word) about any they find outside the norm, as defined by their constricted minds. They see dark forces and conspiracies where none exist, well, probably. And seek to blame someone, usually someone perceived as different. I know that reminds me of mindless seekers after blame and conspiracy who roam the planet today, but maybe that’s just me. Feeding the blame-and-conspiracy machine, there is a gender identification seam that permeates as one of the characters contends with being seen one way, while feeling internally entirely other. Other is not an entirely ok thing to be in early nineteenth century small-town America.

Family has a lot to do with who we are, who we become, what we might be capable of, for good or ill. Ben’s love for Brom is manifest and a serious source of strength. Ben’s relationship with Katrina is more conflictual, yet with strong underpinnings. But what about other family? There is connection and help to be had in the household, with one of the staff providing a solid core of support. And what about community? Sander is clearly a bff, although not necessarily the best able to offer support in all circumstances. Ben does not seem to have much beyond that. Thus the need for Brom’s strength. Thankfully, Ben has internalized that, so has at least a chance to engage in battle without being entirely over-matched.

We trot along by Ben’s side as dangers present, whether it is obvious or not that they are perilous. Ben does get tingles about certain people, internal red flags of distrust. Are they valid or paranoid?

The book is not marketed as YA, but it felt like a YA title to me. Henry has written several books that take a new look at classic children’s stories, tending toward a younger readership. Most serious violence remains off screen, although we do get to see its aftermath. Profanity is absent. There is a piece in here about people, not all people, but some people, being susceptible to manipulation by an outside force encouraging the dark piece that resides deep within to come to the surface, to take over, even if only for a time. I had a problem with this, as it exempts some from having that bit. Certainly, some people are better than others, more ethical, more moral, kinder, smarter, more empathic, more honest, more responsible, but even the best of us harbors at least a sliver of darkness. This sort of not-quite black-and-white, but maybe charcoal-gray-and-white view of human potential for unpleasantness added to the YA feel. That said, there are a couple of tough physical battles and issues of sexual attraction and predation are raised, which gives it a bit more bite.

In literature, The Woods is generally a symbol of the challenges facing young people on the cusp of adulthood. Ben’s adventures fit quite nicely into that, passing through the fires of challenge to reach maturity in a very different and interesting way. Ben, gifted with considerable horse sense, meets those trials head on. I found Ben’s playtime activities, though, a bit off for a child of fourteen, ten maybe. Perhaps Henry was looking to make the distance Ben travels from this to that seem longer than it really was.

But fret not. Though I am well past the YA demo I found this an engaging, fun, creative take on an old favorite. Ben is an appealing lead, struggling with the choices life presents, a dark horse to root for. There are adventures aplenty, head-scratcher mysteries to be solved, clues to be followed, warmth and family love to be appreciated, and a new, quite surprising interpretation of an old mystery. Is it scary? A bit. I am particularly immune to getting the creeps from books, and have a simple metric. Does anything in the book make the hair on my arms stand at attention? For what it’s worth, my pelt remained at ease. But it is clear that there is plenty of creepy material to be had in Horseman, and it is likely that many readers will get more of a frisson from those than might an old oater like me.

Horseman is a perfect read for the Halloween season. But you might not want to head off to a favorite outdoor reading spot if it is more than just a little way into the woods.
"The dark silhouette seemed to unfold—no, unfurl, sinuous and soft—and I thought how can an animal stand like a man?
My breath seized inside my lungs because just for an instant I thought I saw eyes looking back at me, eyes that could not be there because no human was there, no human could possibly have eyes like that—eyes that glowed, eyes that pulled, eyes that seemed to be tugging on my soul, drawing it out through my mouth."

Review posted – October 1, 2021

Publication date – September 28, 2021


I received an e-ARE of Horseman from Berkley, via NetGalley in return for not losing my head writing a review. Thanks, folks.

This review, properly formatted, with a bunch of images, and many links, has been cross-posted on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4252911568) and on my site, Coot’s Reviews. (https://cootsreviews.com/2021/10/01/one-horse-town/) Head on over and say Hi!

Prequels, sequels, retellings.....most of the time they are hit or miss for me. I've had a few revisits to classic stories that I loved, but most are just disappointing, to be honest. I decided to take a chance on this sequel to Washington Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow because the premise really sounded interesting. It was a good decision -- I really enjoyed this story!

The Basics: 20 years have passed since Ichabod Crane disappeared from Sleepy Hollow. Brom Bones married Katrina Van Tassel and life went on. Strange things happen in the woods around the little village though. Bente Van Brunt, Brom's grandchild, ignores the legend, except for running through the woods with his friends playing Sleepy Hollow Boys. Bente - who prefers to be called Ben - just wants to be like Brom. Then one day, while running around in the woods, the boys find the body of a child....and the head is missing. Is the Horseman back? Or is there another evil lurking the woods around Sleepy Hollow?

I loved Ben as a character. Born a girl, but a boy at heart, Ben struggles to make his grandmother understand him...and to become the person he wants to be. Brom is larger than life, of course, just like in the original story.

This tale is definitely written for a YA audience, but at 50+ I enjoyed it, too! It was interesting to revisit the story and characters from Irving's tale....this time with a real supernatural feel to it.

Definitely a great book to read (or listen to) during Halloween season! It fit right into my spooky reads for October!

The audio book is almost 9 hours long, and narrated by Em Grosland. Grosland does a great job of voice acting. She brings the story to life! I got about halfway through my digital ARC of this book and realized I wanted the audio book -- I love listening to spooky stories! And this one had enough supernatural events and suspense that I knew it would be a superb audio book! Bought the audio the minute the book released!

So, although at first I was a bit skeptical that anyone could do the original story justice, Christina Henry took the feel of the original and made it her own. Loved it! Now that I've read this book, I want to read Henry's story Captain Hook! And she has a story based on Alice in Wonderland, too! I obviously have a lot of reading to do! Yay! Full stars from me -- this story is spooky and very entertaining! This would make an awesome movie! *hint hint* And the book cover art is AWESOME!

**I voluntarily read a review copy (and bought/listened to the audio book) of this story from Berkley Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

I was born in New England but I lived in Upstate New York for ten years which means my taste in horror is steeped in both New England Gothic and Washington Irving’s Dutch-influenced tales of the macabre (I mean, you’ve seen a Rembrandt, right?).

Forget the stylized, Tim Burton aesthetic. Henry harnesses humanity’s deep seated fear of the dark, the deep woods, to spirits so inhuman, one’s eyes and brains can’t even recognize them as having a shape, as being. They devour heads and hands.

They are old, old curses, dug in, part of the land, whispering, waiting to be resurrected by a word, a shudder, a half-formed fear, a forgotten dream,

When I occasionally admit to believing in ghosts, these are the ghosts I’m talking about so Horseman scared the crap out of me.

Perfection.

I’ve read all of Henry’s retelling tales and I always love them. Horseman is not a retelling, as it takes place years later. We follow a teenager called Ben, who remembers his grandfather’s stories of Crane and the headless horseman. He didn’t concern himself much with these stories until a child was found decapitated. Is it possible the stories are true?

Horseman is not super scary or gory, but it’s a well written coming-of-age tale with the perfect Halloween vibes! It also touches on friendship, racism, horses, and lots of pumpkin goodness. Definitely check it out if you love The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, but it’s great for first timers too!

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.

Christina Henry is one of the most imaginative authors I read. She takes well-known stories and retells them or sets them in a familiar setting, and writes a fantastical tale in which the reader is never quite sure where the story will go.

Her latest, Horseman A Tale of Sleepy Hollow, is not a retelling of Sleepy Hollow but a sequel set decades after the original tale. Katrina and Brom are now grandparents raising their granddaughter Bente. The isolated town has not changed much since Ikfjlsdkjf Crane ran from the Headless Horseman. People do not wander too far off the path in the woods because strange things happen there. A child is found dead; the injuries are similar to murders from years ago. Could the Horseman be back, or is something else hunting and killing children of the hollow?

I enjoy reading Christina Henry's novels because I am never sure where they will go. Her writing style hooks you in from the beginning, and the only thing you can be sure of is that you are going on a wild ride while reading her stories. Although they borrow from well-known stories, they are creative and unusual. Horseman is no exception.

This 200-word review will be published on Philomathinphila.

Horseman: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow by Christina Henry is not a retelling of Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow but a continuing story that takes place 3o or so years after the original. . You will learn what happened to Brom and Katrina after Ichabod Crane incident. The book acknowledges that Brom was dressed as the Headless Horseman to frighten poor Ichabod, but what if the legend created something new. The book is best when it ties into the original The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, when it drifts away it is not always good. The book breaks into 3 parts, the first and second are great I loved the ending to the second part. The third comes with a time jump acting as a epilogue with a climax, which for me didn't work at all the ending for part 2 was perfect and should have been the ending for the series. This book was heading in to a possibly 5 out of 5 star rating heading into the third part, which didn't work for me at all I found the motivation flawed the puppet master reveal kind of came out of nowhere and didn't make sense to the rest of the story, and the battle with the puppet master was over with in seconds. It was not all bad I felt the character ended up in the perfect place, but the way they got there was not great, and made me not care what happens to the character leading up to it. Horseman represents the LGBTQ community as it has a transgendered character as it's lead, it takes a very non-apologetic approach that really works. I was given an advanced readers copy thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group. Horseman: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow by Chistina Henry was published on September 28th 2021.

The Plot: 30 years after Ichabod was haunted by the Headless Horseman a teenager is found without a head. Has the legend returned? Brom the man that pretend to be the Headless Horseman all those years ago was so ashamed by his actions that he never told that it was him all a long, thus the legend has grown. Ben, whose grandparents are Brom and Katrina Van Tassel, is drawn to the woods and is a suspect to the murders. Ben discovers family secrets and is determined to find out what is murdering the people of Sleepy Hollow.

What I Liked: Cristina Henry found a way to write Brom with such heart and regret that you can't help loving a fairly unsympathetic as he was written in Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The climax of Part 2 was perfect in how it linked the old legend of Sleepy Hollow to the new legend of Sleepy Hollow. The recap of the original story was done really well. I liked how Ben being transgendered was handled, it was was something that they felt and didn't care how anybody else felt about it. I liked how the character was revealed at the beginning.

What I Disliked: This story's version of the horseman. I wanted a better reason for Ben to go to the woods in part three. The puppet master reveal made no sense at all, why would some one so powerful be someone so weak for decades, and the whole family thing did not add up.

Recommendations: Horseman is that rare lower rated book that I will recommend, the first 2 parts are great and a fun murder mystery that ties into the old Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Part 3 is not good but at least it is short and I still think the character of Ben ended up in the perfect place. I rated Horseman: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow by Christina Henry 3 out of 5 stars.

The town of Sleepy Hollow whispers of the Horseman, but Ben Van Brunt’s grandfather say that it’s just a silly tale.
When the body of a boy is found headless, Ben begins to question everything about Sleepy Hollow. Is the Horseman real after all?

What an absolute perfect spooky read for the season. The writing immediately drew me in from the moment I started reading, until the very last sentence.
I think fans of Sleepy Hollow will definitely enjoy this retelling. It’s different and dark at times, but I really enjoyed what it had to offer.
I really felt like I had been transported to Sleepy Hollow and it really was the perfect reading experience for the Halloween season.

I will say, this is more of a mystery/thriller in my opinion. I wish it had a bit more of those creepy and spooky moments, I really just wanted a little more from it in those areas. The adult characters also drove me a bit insane because of how awful they were to Ben, they were like big bullies picking on a 14 year old.
I also think the story did start dragging about halfway, it began to be a little repetitive and slow in some parts.

However, I think the overall story is really fun and perfect for this time of year! I’m so happy that I got a chance to read it in time for the spooky season.

My favorite Halloween tale of all time is Tje Legend of Sleepy Hollow, so when I heard about this book I knew I must read it immediately. This book is not exactly a retelling, rather it is a continuation of the story. What came next for Brom Bones and Katrina and why did Ichabod disappear?

The story takes up years in the future and Brom and Patricia are married and are the wealthiest landowners around. His son and his wife died in an accident and they are left to care for their child Bente, who identifies as male and calls himself Ben. Young Ben idolizes Brom and spends hours with a friend reinacting the events that led up to Ichanod Crane’s vanishing. But when Ben discovers the headless body of a child in the woods, he begins to question if the stories he was told about what happened long ago are real. Whose body is this and what happened to Ichabod?

Henry has created a Sleepy Hollow that is atmospheric, eerie, dark and brimming with magic. This is a book full of spooky and scary moments. I often had to stop reading and peer into the dark comers of my house. Henry does a good job of creating a sense of impending doom. But there are also sparks of lovliness in this book. Themes of family, loss and acceptance permeate the book and create some poignant moments amidst the darkness.

If you are Looking for the perfect read to guide you into the autumnal Halloween season, you can’t do any better than this
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Gour stars for me!
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest and fair review. #NetGalley #Horseman