I was pretty enthused to read A Hunter Called Night, Tim Waggoner is one of those authors who rides the line between fantasy and horror and usually gives you something unique to read as a result. Night is definitely true to the fantasy meets horror themes of Waggoner's work, This one being something of a late night movie premise like Full Moon Features might make in one of their more fantasy centered films. If you're looking for something with lots of characters, a unique premise, and fairly short length this certainly fits the bill. However, this also means that if you're more of a fan of depth of plot and rich character development you might not be as satisfied as you hoped. This is definitely more of a quick popcorn plot, not necessarily a bad thing if you want something fun and simple, mind you, just not quite what I was hoping for personally.

I like the idea of a mysterious hunter and a group of random folks being pulled into the hunt, but I found myself feeling like maybe I would have gotten more from the resulting book if it had been more fleshed out and the characters had felt more grounded in their identities, particularly with the personality shift that came over them when the blight changed them. Sure, the blight corrupts, but would it so thoroughly change them that they'd become flatter as well as bring out these baser instincts? Would they not have some internal conflicts about this, especially if they were fairly decent people beforehand? We have a bit of this with some of our core characters but not with most of the other characters. It really could have grounded the horror a bit more and helped us to understand the corruption and it's effects. This seemed to be especially true of the male characters, who were more likely to flip into sexual and murderous mode no matter who they were or appeared to be before the night's effects took over. This made sense with some characters, but others made this shift with no regard for who they were and this was disconcerting- in fact, this coupled with some of the female characters being stereotypically bitchy and manipulative made the book more difficult to read.

I would have preferred to know a bit more about the hunt, the world Night and her Harriers come from, and some deeper ideas about why the hunt happens. I'm not entirely certain the ending quite fit the characters as presented either. The reveal and battle could've used a lot more detail to stick the landing for me too. All that being said, I don't think this book is necessarily going to be an issue for everyone. If you want something you can pick up and enjoy in a fairly short amount of time this would be right for you, especially if you're in the mood for something of a B movie.

A read that gives you thrills and chills but is not that rememberable in the end. The fantasy portion of this book is not for me but for those who love urban fantasy this might be a book for you.

This book has an original and interesting core plot, where nobody is safe, but I just felt like there was too much to absorb. There were so many characters and flashbacks it also removed any emphasis on any one particular storyline or character. And each time the scene changed it was difficult to get back into the flow, who was this character again, or when. Overall, the structure made it hard to feel a connection to any character, and therefore difficult to stick with. There's certainly some excellent weirdness, and plenty of gore, but it would have been better with either a smaller cast, or more emphasis on a small number with less detail on the others.

A dark fantasy novel that follows the story of a supernatural entity known as Night, who hunts down and eradicates threats to the balance between the human world and the realm of dark forces. Night is a unique and complex character, blending traits of both hero and monster, driven by a sense of duty to maintain this delicate equilibrium. Waggoner explores themes of morality, the nature of evil, and the grey areas between good and bad. As Night confronts various creatures and challenges, he grapples with his own identity and purpose.
A notable sequence in the book occurs when Night faces off against a powerful, ancient demon threatening to break free and wreak havoc on the human world. The confrontation is intense and vividly described, showcasing Waggoner's skill in creating suspenseful and action-packed scenes. During this battle, Night uses his unique abilities to outsmart the demon, revealing deeper layers of his character and the complexities of his mission. This scene is particularly memorable for its high stakes and the way it encapsulates the novel's blend of horror and dark fantasy elements.

A Hunter Called Night by Tim Waggoner was not for me, personally. I am still thankful that I got to read this! I don't think I will read any more from this author.

Received as an ARC from Netgalley:

The cover of this book undersells how utterly unhinged this book is. I was under the impression that this was an animal attack book and while it is in a way...it's also so so so much more.

A book featuring werewolves, giant magic panthers, ladies with scissors for hands, a vampire with needles for fingers, bird people, and SO MUCH MORE. When the carnage begins this book really just doesn't stop.

There are some nastier elements to the story (fatphobia) but those elements are actually expanded upon in a way that makes it more than just being like a Stephen King throwaway insult. Still be aware about things like body dysmorphia and eating disorders.

This is the rare book that I just couldn't put down, and needed to know how the gore filled insanity would end.

I did not finish this book about 25% of the way in. It didn't pull me in, the magical mystique could have felt a bit more, but it just felt a little boring. There was potential, but I just couldn't bring myself to read more than 2 pages at a time and I didn't feel anything for the main character on the run. I tried to read this for about a good six months - wondering as I am a mood reader, if given some time it might just flick on my enjoyment for the book.

I did not post a review on socials as I did not want to discourage anyone from this story. I just couldn't get into it.

Another mind-breaking, murderous story by Tim Waggoner.
If you've enjoyed Tim's past work, you're in for a treat.

It was nearly ten years ago when I first read a Tim Waggoner novel (Night Terrors) and I was impressed enough with the outrageousness and originality that I’ve been seeking Waggoner’s books ever since. He has really become a major force in the horror fiction world.

In A Hunter Called Night, a man known as Arron is on the run. He is keenly aware that he is likely to die at any moment, but he is unwilling to simply give up. He is running from the Hunter known as ‘Night’ and he has been running from her for many years now when he reaches the relative safety of a building in which Night cannot enter.

To ferret Arron out, Night creates Blight which slowly transforms the building where Arron is hiding, and all of the people inside of it, into something disturbing and otherworldly. Will Arron leave the relative security of the building, slowly transforming and its unknown dangers to face the known hunter, Night and her feline beasts, ‘harriers’?

Arron has been chased before and there have always been casualties in the hunt, but now, some of the survivors of previous hunts have banded together and are doing some hunting themselves … hunting the hunter, Night.

Waggoner isn’t shy in his horror writing. This will be dark, grotesque, and full of keenly described bodily horrors. If you don’t respond well to a high ‘ick’ factor, this isn’t for you. But unlike the splatter-punk genre of horror, Waggoner uses his descriptions to really provide the full horror of a situation, not to just try to gross the reader out with gore.

I did find the creativity of the concept to be highly engaging and the writing is smooth and enchanting. It’s almost as though Waggoner is the Hunter, lulling the reader in.

There were moments of cloudiness when I didn’t quite follow what was happening. Sometimes this added a level of unease but sometimes it just made me confused.

I don’t think I could read only Waggoner – it’s just a bit too intense – but when I’m in the mood for a good, solid, horror story, Tim Waggoner is definitely a go-to author.

Looking for a good book? A Hunter Called Night by Tim Waggoner is a powerful, sometimes gross, easy to read novel that ratchets up the horror to intense levels.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

A sinister being called Night and her panther-like Harriers stalk their quarry, a man known only as Arron. Arron seeks refuge within an office building, a place Night cannot go, for it’s part of the civilized world, and she’s a creature of the Wild. To flush Arron out, she creates Blight, a reality-warping field that slowly transforms the building and its occupants in horrible and deadly ways. But unknown to Night, while she waits for the Blight to do its work, a group of survivors from a previous attempt to capture Arron are coming for her. The hunter is now the hunted.

This was an unexpected hidden gem that I really really enjoyed. It was the perfect amalgamation between fantasy and thriller and I really enjoyed Waggoner’s characterisation. With a dual time line you unravel the mystery of Night and Arron’s ongoing battle and are sucked in to the storylines of those who unfortunately cross their path.

My only qualm for the novel is that I felt after the HUGE twist, that I did NOT see coming, the ending fell a little flat, but this is only a small issue with what was an overall great read!

So, initially the author and book synopsis was the draw for me!

I’ve read some of Waggoner’s other work and enjoyed it. This sounded like a grim, dark fantasy, horror mashup.

It fell more into the dark fantasy category when I was reading (albeit with some gruesome scenes), however it still fell a little flat for me.

There were some epic moments, and interesting characters, but I kept having to restart this story because it wouldn’t keep me interested.

It’s long, and some parts felt unnecessary. If it was trimmed down and more focused on the immediate characters and problems then I think I would’ve been more captivated.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Flame Tree Press for a copy.

A book that kept me reading even if I had to keep the light on. Tense, well plotted, great world building.
A gripping story that I would not recommend to the faint of heart
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I liked the setting and the multi-perspective accounts of the same day is a fun framework, however I didn't feel that either was played to its full strengths. The story overall felt a little thin but the end was fun if you don't ask too many questions.

Hands down one of the best horror writers out there. I loved this book. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. It sucked you in and kept you there until the end.

A bearded man runs out of the forest and across a parking lot. A moment later, four black panthers and a blonde woman follow him across the asphalt. They are hot in pursuit, but although he runs they do not. They walk slowly, leaning against some unseen force. The bearded man makes it into the office building. The woman lowers her hand to the asphalt, and cracks begin to form. A slow rot creeps along the cars, moss and mold and the stench of the Wild. The Blight has been cast. The game is on.

Tim Waggoner's "A Hunter Called Night" is a riveting book. Fast-paced and action-packed, it holds the reader at the edge of their seat until the game is through. Each chapter focuses upon a different person affected by the hunt, so the true crux of the story is unveiled in small pieces that will keep the reader guessing. I found myself engrossed with it from start to finish, cheering for my favorites and loving each second as the characters asked the questions on my own mind from the start.

The tension between the Wild and the civilized is often a well-worn trope, but it is done well in Waggoner's story. The logic of the rules is attractive, and the characters all felt unique, fully-formed, and believable. The world he created, close to our own but infused with a bizarre mythology that tantalizes with how close it is to being a logical extension of our own beliefs, was likewise easy to sink into and believe.

I was reluctant to leave this book behind once I finished it, but incredibly happy there are so many more things by Waggoner that I could pick up next.

I've enjoyed some of Waggoner's short fiction before but this was the first novel of his that I've read. Waggoner developed a very unique idea here, but in some ways I felt like this was more of a novella that got stretched out. A large portion of the book is there to show creative monsters and scary kills----that's all fine, because he's quite good at that. But it sometimes got in the way of the story for me. That won't be for every reader, so those who really enjoy the creative rush will likely love this book. Thanks for making it available----I have several library patrons I can suggest this to.

I just couldn't get into it and didn't feel anything for the characters. I think the author is talented and others will love it, maybe YA

Very bizarre and tense. This author can do no wrong. I highly recommend grabbing this one for your horror collection.

Mixed bag of dark fantasy, horror and comedy brings you to Tim's new novel "A Hunter Called Night". It begins with the scene of a man being chased by a hunter called Night, bringer of destruction and catastrophe to the world. Then as the first part of story progresses that certain man (which I will say a prick) leads to a certain key in connection to Night's agenda.

Tim Waggoner has written more novels, short stories and movie tie-ins and I've found out that his writing was a gem. This story will be one of my favorite book for this year I love the world building, tropes and flow of the story it never let me down till the end.

Thanks also to Tim, Flame Tree Press and Netgalley for giving me an e-ARC of this copy.

I'm a fan of a huge swing, and Waggoner's newest dark horror fantasy is certainly that. A world of fierce hunters and bizarre reality manipulations, the author has created a fascinating world and inhabited with creatures from the darkest parts of the human imagination. It is too gory for my tastes in fits and starts, but that'll be a personal issue. Waggoner is able to grip your attention from page one, though the ending does feel a tad rushed. I'm looking forward to jumping into more Waggoner going forward, as he's made an impressive first impression on me here.