Received as an ARC from Netgalley:

I feel so bad that it took me sooo long to read this book, as I loved it. This is a great horror western with a sapphic romance at its center and a deep understanding who were the TRUE villains of the old west (colonialism).

Great action, great characters, and some genuinely creepy sequence. I knew where this book was going by the second chapter, but the ride was worth going on nonetheless.

My only complaint is I wish this was longer - it was an excellent novella, but I wanted more! Rosenberg does an amazing job of bringing the historical setting to life, with great characters that help bring the story to life. I had chills running down my spine while reading this, and I got so wrapped up in it that it felt like the ending came way too soon. (I flew through it in one sitting). If you enjoy horror and old west stories, you're going to love this!

4 Stars!

I really did not know what to expect when I started Hungers as Old as This Land by Zachary Rosenberg, but the book had a wicked cover and the synopsis sounded interesting, so I thought I would give it a try. Since it is Rosenberg’s debut novella, I was hoping that I might find another writer to look forward to in the future.



Abraham Foxman and Cyril Redstone had known each other for years. They had served together during the Civil War and Abraham had saved Cyril’s life. The two men had gone their separate ways after the war. Abraham founded a settlement in the West where members of the Jewish faith could flourish while Cyril has gone on to sell his services and deal death for the highest bidder. The two men never thought they would cross paths again until fate once more brought them together.



Abraham had founded his community with the grudging acceptance of an ancient evil that lives in the mountains nearby. It was an arrangement born out of mutual respect. When Cyril arrives and takes Abraham’s daughter, Esther, hostage and slaughters the small town of Grey’s Bluff, he demands to know where the town gets its wealth. The gold lies in the hills where the evil spirits live, and those spirits are hungry. Cyril is not afraid of anything and thinks the stories he has heard are just tales to scare away the timid. He is about to learn how wrong he is. He is about to learn about fear.



Hungers as Old as this Land is a quick read, but a vicious one. Rosenberg takes some time setting up the story though the characters, mainly Esther Foxman and her lover, before turning on the violence. This gives the novella a little bit of depth. The backstory behind the relationship between Abraham and Cyril is explored as well. This is all written very well, but it did cause the novella to start a little slower than expected. Rosenberg makes up for this once the action starts. The second half of the story is explosive and violent and everything the novella promised at the outset. The battle at Grey’s Bluff is a solid piece of Western action and then comes the Hungers. The end of this story is sure to leave the reader wanting for more.



The only criticism I have for this novella is that I wish it was longer. The set up of the story almost seems as if it is meant to be a novel, and I think that fleshing out the history between Abraham and Cyril as well as more on what the Hungers are and where they came from would make this into a novel that would be stronger than the novella. Even the relationship between Esther and her secret/forbidden lover, Siobhan, seems to be a tale worth telling as well. I liked the story a lot, but I do feel as if Hungers as Old as this Land would have been better serves as a longer work. There is more story here than the formal allows for. I am very interested in what Rosenberg will have for us in the future (and it looks as if I will not have to wait long as his first novel is set to be released soon). Overall, though, this is a very good horror story that is sure to satisfy any fan of the genre. Hungers as Old as this Land is highly recommended for a quick and blood-soaked good time.



I would like to thank Brigids Gate Press and NetGalley for this review copy. Hungers as Old as this Land is available now.

"The settlement of Grey's Bluffs is a prosperous town. An independent community dwelling in the shadows of the mountains known only as The Hungers. Esther Foxman and Siobhan O'Clery have grown up in Grey's Bluffs, thriving out on the western territories in the aftermath of the Civil War. Devoted to one another and their home, the two set out to complete a regular pact at the Hungers to ensure that Grey's Bluffs continues to prosper.
Cyril Redstone is a man who knows death well. Becoming a mercenary after the Civil War, Cyril leads the marauding Blackhawks from one slaughter to the next. Hired to destroy Grey's Bluffs, Cyril cares little for morality, nor that he owes its founder his life. Esther and Siobhan are left to defend the only home they have ever known from the Blackhawks, their confrontation driving them deep into the mountains. Where the darkest secrets of the Hungers await them."

Crazy book, quick read, if you like horror nooks, this is the book for you. I give this book 4 stars.
Thank you to Brigids Gate Press, netgalley, and the author for a chance to leave an honest review.
Published May 17th, 2023.

Loved this novella! It was short and packed with the best of Western. The scene where the mercenaries come into town was incredibly well-written and made the whole book for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for this epic opportunity to read rate and review this arc which has been available since May 17, 2023!

Western. Horror. Hell yeah! It starts off with a battle during the civil war then slides into the introduction of The Hungers. There is queer rep and for a dude writing it I found it to be tasteful. A little indigenous and Jewish folklore in there too. Don’t come to Grey Bluffs with ill intent or the Hungers are gonna get you.

Over all I dug it and I am sending it to my dad for Christmas.

fter finishing Hungers As Old As This Land by Zachary Rosenberg, i just have one thing to say...more!!! damn, that was good. I'm a lifelong horror reader and lover and this one checked all the boxes. forbidden love, a sultry western, vicious monsters, even more vicious humans.
the prose was a joy to read, it just flowed. the relationship between Esther and Siobhan was authentic and felt real. the bad guys were oh, so bad. my only gripe would be i wanted more of the beasts!! they were fascinating!! could we have a sequel, please???
as if you can't tell...highly recommended.
run out and buy this book!!
5 stars out of 5.

I’ve read a few short fiction pieces by Zachery Rosenberg and his story ideas and voice stood out to me so I was excited to read his debut novella, Hungers As Old As This Land. It's impossible not to be pulled in from the start, with the recollection of an epic battle scene that lays down some interesting backstory. After you meet lead characters, Esther and Siobhan in the following chapter, you'll be lost to the town of Grey’s Bluffs and the mystery that surrounds The Hungers.

Rosenberg weaves western horror with Jewish culture, lore and history with a memorable cast of characters to make this a truly authentic tale. I particularly loved the lead couple, Esther and Siobhan whose love, courage, humour and character traits was an endearing aspect to the storytelling for me. With seamless prose, immersive description and well- crafted scenes, the narrative unfolds with cinematic intensity that thrilled and left me breathless at times. These are monsters you never met, they’re people you want to fight for, and a tale you won’t forget.

It's a novella so it's slightly shorter than your average novel, but the author does a brilliant job in delivering a well-paced and satisfying story. Perfect length for a picnic in the woods, an afternoon at the seaside or a cosy night in.

I’m looking forward to the author’s next release in a different genre, The Long Shalom which is sure to be another fresh and compelling read.

“Dirty business was what America was all about. It was a lesson as old as this nation, built upon lead and gun smoke: hunger drove everything.”

I’ve always said I will read anything: I have loved mysteries, romance, historical fiction, nonfiction… but I was never interested in westerns. Thanks to the horror community, and especially Hungers as Old as This Land, I think I’ve changed my mind.

Esther Foxman and Siobhan O’Clery are just two of the people in Abraham Foxman’s settlement near The Hungers. It’s a thriving settlement filled with a diverse population. Everything works this way because Abraham made a pact with the creatures of The Hungers. They watch over Grey’s Bluffs for offerings in return.

This is my first story by Zachary Rosenberg, and his writing blew me away. This is a shorter book, only 100 pages or so, but the way he wrote it made it feel much longer, in a good way. It was very theatrical, and even with sparse descriptions of the creatures, I was able to fill in the blanks myself, and that made it even scarier.

Something I really enjoyed was that there was almost a philosophical statement about monstrosity: are the creatures the monsters, or are humans? For such a short book, there was a lot to ponder over at the end.

I’m writing this review months after finishing this book, and while I don’t remember everything still, I do remember how I felt reading it. It really was a pleasure. And it was queer as hell, which I definitely appreciated. Esther and Siobhan were goals.

Thank you to NetGalley and Birgids Gate Press for the chance to read this advanced review copy.

So I'm trying to recall the last time I read a Western in which the main character was Jewish and I honestly think this was the first. Our main character is Jewish and Indigenous and I simply loved our mix of cultures here!

The story itself is both chilling and suspenseful and features a villain who borders on iconic! The villain was so well fleshed out and I'd definitely run if I saw them coming!

Expect violence, heartbreak, and a surprisingly epic tale.

Loved this!

Thank you NetGalley, Zachary Rosenberg and Brigid Gate Press for providing me this intriguing eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Novels/Novellas with a Western theme are not normally my cup of tea. But once I read the summary of Hungers as Old as This Land, I was definitely intrigued. How could a horror fan resist a story with fascinating characters and a sacred deal with unearthly creatures?

Esther Foxman and Siobhan O’Clery as fascinating women, with Esther being immensely relatable to me due to sharing and understanding the difficulties and complexities of two different racial/cultural/religious backgrounds.

The antagonist Cyril Redstone and his benefactor are more typical in being driven by greed, but are not over-the-top caricatures despite their villainy. I wish we had been given more time with some of the characters with smaller roles-such as Esther’s father-and more time with the settlers of Grey’s Bluffs before things went awry.

But I can understand the desire to balance the story and characters without possibly dragging things out unnecessarily. The Hungers themselves are also fascinating and ravenous beings, capable of both horrifying violence and intelligent reasoning.

Hungers as Old as This Land is an excellent story with the horrors caused by men and monsters balanced by the sweet moments of romance between Esther and Siobhan, the love between Esther and her father and the friendship between the women and the unintentional cause of the trouble within Grey’s Bluff.

The novel doesn’t shy away from the racism and anti-Semitism that Esther faces and it also doesn’t revel in either for unnecessary shock value. Esther and Siobhan’s relationship isn’t portrayed explicitly to tantalize, but rather displays a tenderness and strength that is engaging.

I thoroughly enjoyed Hungers as Old as This Land and would recommend it to others.

Read this if you like: Westerns with a twist, an encroaching dread, a quick read that lingers.

Deceptively rich world-building fuels this Western/horror mash-up of a novella. Loved every moment.

Wow! I loved this book. A perfect genre mashup that both delights in and subverts the tropes of Westerns, horror, and zombie stories. A beautiful central relationship and vivid place-setting remains an anchor as the story comes to a wild climax. Can't wait to see what's next from Zachary Rosenberg!

Oops! I finished this one over a week ago, then forgot about it.

That's not a good sign.

I will say that the short tale held my interest while I was reading it. I liked the western setting, and there are two strong female characters leading the charge. And, there's plenty of action. So . . . why has this passed so quickly from my memory?

Well, the horror aspect wasn't particularly horrific, and there were no surprises. In truth, you can see the ending coming after the first few pages. (view spoiler)

The author definitely has talent, and I expect greater efforts will be coming soon.

I love both horror and westerns, unfortunately this didn’t scratch either itch. It was apparent from very early on how the story would play out, and it didn’t deviate. If I would have taken a shot each time the characters Star of David was mentioned I would have ended up hammered, would have thought the object would play a larger role than the constant reminder that the charter is Jewish.

Zachary Rosenberg’s Hungers as Old as This Land is a heck of an introduction into the world of Western splatter horror…a genre I didn’t even realize I was missing out on. Sadly it’s only a novella, and I say sadly because when I reached the end I was wishing the story had continued or had been larger. While Rosenberg doesn’t pull any punches with the action (and there is a considerable amount packed into the roughly 100 or so pages), I do wish there was more on the Hungers themselves. I’d love to have seen more of them, explored them further. Maybe a sequel? Rosenberg also doesn’t shy away from subject of representation with the main character being a Jewish lesbian. Rosenberg is definitely on my radar now and I look forward to reading more. Thanks so much to Brigids Gate Press and NetGalley for allowing me access to an eARC of Hungers as Old as This Land.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hungers-as-old-as-this-land-zachary-rosenberg/1143292939?ean=2940166969316&bvnotificationId=0f63d9ee-f589-11ed-b966-12326aea1d39&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/248662797

DNF’d at 80%

The premise of the book sounded amazing, lesbian western horror with terrifying creatures.
Unfortunately I couldn’t get into the story at all, even though this was just a novella I couldn’t finish it, it felt so long and boring.
I really wanted to love this but unfortunately I didn’t enjoyed it.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

🍃 Publication Date: May 17, 2023 🍃

This was an awesome entry into the horror western category!

It told a fantastic story with protagonists who are lgbtq as well as Jewish, which is rare to see in any book, let alone in one for this timeframe. It was very refreshing and I loved the characters. Cyril was cold and cruel, I wonder how he got to be that way.

The creatures were phenomenal, terrifying and powerful. I couldn’t help feeling sorry for them though as Esther did, that the world is changing and there may not be a place for them in it.

Again, a fantastic story, and if the other decides to write more about The Hungers or Siobhan/Esther, I would definitely read any future books!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Brigids Gate Press for a copy!

Brutal and devastating, yet all the while glimmering with love and hope. I did not know I needed Jewish horror as badly as I did. I will probably say more when I've recovered, but this is a lovely and important book. May there be many more.

I'm not a Western person, despite it being a well loved genre in the homes I spent my time in growing up. I have been seeing so much buzz about this book though, that I had to request it, and I'm glad I did.

I really love the spin on the Old West that Zachary Rosenberg has given us, highlighting the voices that were notably absent from the genre in the past. The gore and bloodshed were plentiful, there was heartbreak and triumph, and the setting was interesting. The characters were likeable and it was easy to fall into their shoes and cheer for them as events unfolded as well.

Honestly I think my only complaint is that it was so short! I could easily read more about the adventures of Esther and Siobhan. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author in the future!