Indian Burial Ground is the first book I've read by Nick Medina and one thing I can say for sure is that his storytelling capabilities are undeniable. I appreciated the dual POV of Uncle Louie and Noemi with his story going back in time & telling of the events that happened when he was a teenager, and Noemi's thoughts in real time with Uncle Louie coming back after being gone for so long. Having those dual POVs and recounting of events fills us in as the reader on what all has been happening on the Rez for about the last 40 or so years. As a reader I was really able to get a sense of the type of community the folks living on the Rez have with one another. However, I do which we would have gotten to know a little bit more abut Noemi as a person. It seemed like a lot of who she is was wrapped up in her (dead) boyfriend-- which is one of the major issues she is attempting to deal with, but it also made it hard to completely feel connected to her.

The themes of dealing with alcoholism and the effects it can have on families for generations, as well as the stigma of mental illness and medication, poverty, and gun violence are all touched on in this novel and explored in a tender way. There are many heartbreaking moments in this novel where you just want to give the characters a hug and hope it all gets better.

I certainly had different expectations going into this book than what I got. Because this was marketed as a horror, I was thinking it was going to be fast paced and more "scary." There are certainly horrific and scary things that happen in this book but it's more of a slow burn than anything else. It feels like a literary horror and I think that's something some readers may want to know upfront. Overall, I would absolutely read another book by Nick Medina. I plan to go back and read his debut novel.

“Watching lightning bugs flicker in the field, they showed me that even overwhelming darkness can be broken by little things.”

DNF at 36%. The synopsis of this book grabbed me and I couldn’t wait to get started. But for some reason I simply cannot get lost in this story. I’ve tried. I’ve put it down…come back to it. I feel like I’m missing something as the reviews are fantastic.

It is told in dual timelines and although I am really enjoying Noemi I am bored with Louie. Maybe it’s the horror aspect that is tripping me up? The writing is beautiful but the story just isn’t gripping me. I would certainly attempt another book by this author, though.

I want to thank Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author anyway for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first time reading a novel from Nick Medina and I love the writing style, so I will definitely seek out his other work.
Great characters, intriguing premise, and it delivers - another wonderful addition to the indigenous thriller genre.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance reader copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

4.5⭐️

After reading Sisters of the Lost Nation, this became one of my most anticipated reads, and it didn't let me down.  I've definitely become a huge fan of Nick Medina.

Things are going well for Noemi Broussard.  She's finally feels like she's getting it together with a great boyfriend who treats her right and plans to move away from the reservation.  But when Roddy is hit by a car in a speculated suicide her life is turned upside down.  She's convinced it wasn't a suicide and there was something more sinister at play.  Her Uncle Louie seems to agree with her.  He hasn't been back to the reservation in over 10 years, and now, with Roddy's death, his past comes tumbling back.  A past of dark secrets, terrifying horror, and deaths.  He begins to relive the nightmares, but it may help them discover the truth about Roddy's death.  Could Roddy's death be related to other deaths?  Is there an evil spirit infiltrating the tribe?  Maybe some secrets need to be kept secret.

This book was written in the dual POV of Noemi and Louie and also in dual timelines of the present day and the 80s.  It was definitely a compelling story, mixing horror, thriller, and paranormal.  The mystery element kept me intrigued, and I found the folklore interesting.  Medina has a way of bringing the sad but true struggles of indigenous people to light.  The topics of poverty, addiction, and suicide are covered in this book and are real on the reservations.  His notes are a definite must-read.  I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

Indian Burial Ground is a supernatural horror story set on an Indian reservation. The story is told from 2 POVs of 2 different characters - one in the past and one in the present. Unfortunately this structure made it confusing for me to read at times. However, the story itself was original and interesting which kept me from DNF'ing.

The story was laced with indigenous cultural elements and really focused on dysfunctional family dynamics with themes such as addiction and grief.

Overall an interesting story that didn't quite grip me as much as I wanted it to.

Thanks to NetGallley, Berkley Publishing, and Penguin Random House for this copy of "Indian Burial Ground."

So this is my last horror book for a bit.

It's a dual timeline story that weaves Native American myths and legends into the lives of Noemi and her Uncle Louie who are dealing with guilt, grief, and trying to find balance and healing.

Uncle Louie grew up on the reservation with myths of the Takoda Vampire and in 1986, something inexplicable happened. And Louie's not sure if it's resurfaced 30 years later.

"You never know what you might uncover from the burial ground within."

It would have been helpful if there was more of a designation between then (1986) and now. The chapter headings were "Louie" and "Noemi" and it got a little confusing to me., but I finally got into the flow.

Indigenous horror that starts out slowly and then gets under your skin. Nick Medina has definitely become an auto-buy author for me. His writing and characters are always so well done.

I absolutely loved Nick Medina's debut novel, Sister of the Lost Nation, and was eagerly anticipating his next book. Indian Burial Ground did not disappoint. Here, Medina focuses more on character development, featuring dual POVs and alternating timelines between past and present. The story follows Uncle Louie and his niece Noemi as they investigate the truth behind Noemi's boyfriend's apparent suicide, leading them to uncover long-buried family secrets.

Within the mystery, Medina delves into generational trauma and its impact on the Indigenous community. The story focuses on how this trauma can lead to mental health issues, alcoholism, and even suicide. We also witness how this trauma affects the lives of Noemi and Louie, triggering long-lasting effects of abandonment and grief. I love the supernatural Medina weaves throughout the story. He explores imbalances through mythological horror to demonstrate how it can pave the way for evil.

I paired the e-book with the audiobook. The narration by Gary Farmer and Erin Tripp was simply perfect. Gary's voice brought the character of Uncle Louie to life, and Erin's voice perfectly captured Noemi's essence. I am glad I had the e-book with me because I highlighted entire pages that discussed mythology, thoughts on grief, and descriptions of the supernatural.

Read this if you love Mystery + Horror + Supernatural + Indigenous Mythology. Most of the story is bleak, unsettling, and creepy, with horror elements that will unnerve some readers. However, in the end, the dark tale does offer a ray of hope, encouraging us to discover our inner warrior.

Nick Molina is a new author to me, and I enjoyed this tale of Native American life and lore. The tone of the book is dark with horror elements, a character driven dual timeline, and it addresses issues of a marginalized community. I enjoyed it from start to finish.

I received this title from Berkley through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

Nick Medina's second novel is no less impressive than his debut, Sisters of a Lost Nation. Indian Burial Ground is both horrifying and heartbreaking. Medina's latest book is a horror story that touches on some very real issues. I'm not sure which is scarier - the Indigenous folklore horror or the real horrors of alcoholism, depression, and self harm that some Indigenous families face.

When I say horror, I mean horror. "A man lunges in front of a car. An elderly woman silently drowns herself. A corpse sits up in its coffin and speaks." I had chills reading some sections while hoping I didn't hear any knocking sounds on my windows during my late night reading sessions.

Hearing the stories of the Broussard family through the eyes of an uncle and his niece, readers will find themselves pulling for Louie and Noemi. Medina draws us into the lives of the family and their Takoda tribe through 17 year old Louie, in the past, and 38 year old Noemi, in the present. I felt both Louie's terror and Noemi's heartbreak in equal measure. Their desperation is palpable.

I am actively seeking to read more books written by Indigenous authors and about Indigenous peoples. Nick Medina is quickly becoming a favorite contemporary author. He manages to satisfy both my love of Indigenous folklore and horror. I am so looking forward to what he writes next!

Read this if you like:
• Indigenous folklore
• Horror
• Contemporary social issues affecting Indigenous people
• A story that will both terrify you and break your heart

I was curious to dive into a horror story with an indigenous mythology. Indian Burial Ground by Nick Medina. With its dual timelines and building horror, the author delivers an eerie tale you’ll remember long after you’ve closed the book.

We first meet Noemi Broussard, who dreams of leaving the reservation and beginning a new life. All of that is shattered when her boyfriend ends up dead from what folks are saying was suicide, but the facts don’t add up. After more than a decade away, her Uncle Louie returns to the reservation and he just might have answers. Missing bones, strange deaths, supernatural occurrences and indigenous folklore about her people & alligators made for an interesting tale.

The tale that unfolds is told in the before and now. The past occurs in the eighties and is told from the voice of a younger Louie and the current from his sister, Noemi. It was a fascinating, spine-tingling tale that unfolded slowly. Admittedly, I struggled with the pacing. The “events” when they occur held me captive, but the in-between bits dragged in spots. As a result, I stopped and started in fits. I almost wonder if I would have done better listening to this one.

I loved the lore and stories about the people and their origin. Medina painted a realistic look at the troubles experienced on the reservation from poverty to alcoholism.

For those looking for a supernatural horror that blends realism, cultural elements and indigenous folklore, I recommend checking out Indian Burial Ground.

It’s great to be back on the Takoda reservation!! I was a big fan of Medina’s novel, Sisters Of The Lost Nation so I was excited to see that his latest novel takes place back on the reservation with many of the familiar characters. This novel is full of Native lore and legends, and will leave you with your spine tingling and your hairs rising!! I appreciated how Medina takes back the popular trope of the Indian burial ground narrative and reclaimed it through an Indigenous lens and voice.

Real Rating: 3.5 Stars

While not entirely my cup of tea when it comes to horror, I have to admit Nick Medina knows how to write one heck of a novel.

I’m going to have to come to terms with the fact I’m just not a fan of slow-burn or slower-paced horror novels. Or maybe even horror novels on the more subtle side, too? It’s almost the same situation as with romance novels: I need stimulation and a lot of it and you better not skimp on the action.

If you look past the horror aspects of this book, Medina’s writing is absolutely lovely. It’s literary fiction wrapped in dense and faithful world building. As you read you can tell just how much time and care he put into this book and how much the story means to him.

It’s an intense book with intense themes revolving around Native Americans that Medina chose to explore through a horror lens to magnify their social and cultural repercussions. In some ways it reminded me of the short story he contributed to the excellent Native American short-story anthology Never Whistle at Night called “Quantum” (which was one of my favorite stories in that anthology).

If you like your creepy mythological horror on the slow burn (but keep it spooky and a little eerie) side and enjoy some intense but beautiful world building, then I totally recommend it.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Mythological Fiction/OwnVoices/Supernatural Horror/Thriller

Thank you Berkley Pub #partner for gifting me an e-book via NetGalley!

I love reading Indigenous thrillers and horror thanks to authors like Nick Medina. I was a huge fan of his first book, 𝑺𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑶𝒇 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, and now his sophomore books delivers equally in terms of character depth and eeriness in the plot.

I love his FMCs and Noemi is one of my favorite book women to have read about. But this book also added her uncle, Louie, who I adored even more because he’s the relatable uncle we all need, and there was an effortless dynamic between Noemi and Louie, displayed between alternate chapters and timelines, as they try to uncover what really happened to Noemi’s boyfriend.

The folklore and supernatural were icing on the cake set against a very realistic depiction of poverty, addiction and sense of helplessness often experienced across generations in reservations.

If you’re someone looking to read an indigenous culture horror book that’s not too graphic or frightening, then this is the perfect book for you! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Wow. This book was a great read on so many levels. You have this murder-mystery-like story that has dark and ominous undertones that still manages to tackle real world issues with candor. The writing is amazing, Nick Medina hooks you in with a shocking opening and then makes art of the storytelling in a dual timeline, dual narrator style. This is not a fast-paced thriller, it is a character driven look at the short period of life when a boy becomes a “man”. The "meat" of the story centers on life and death on the Takoda reservation. Louie returns home to the reservation for the annual Powwow to quickly find out that there is a death on the reservation. This death takes Louie back to his adolescence, when a string of deaths and unexplained occurrences troubled the tribe, and when he still believed in the Takoda vampire. In both timelines Louie is trying to get to the bottom of why bad things have happened and who (or what) is responsible. Interjected into the timelines we learn what life is like for the people in the reservation and a little of the Takoda legends. The dark aspects of the book play out in a manner that even people who don’t like “horror” can still enjoy this book.

For those who know me, or follow me on Instagram, they know I reference Nick Medina's books often, especially when we are discussing Indigenous issues.

One of the themes in this story that really resonated with me was the part about good and evil and how sometimes they can get out of balance. There are times when evil abounds, and then there are times when good outweighs evil. The universe will always try to correct itself when this happens in order to restore balance.

We can not have good without evil or evil without good.

This story is told by Noemi (present day) and Louie (past). For those who have seen Reservation Dogs, Gary Farmer narrates Louie in the audiobook, while Erin Tripp narrates Noemi's story.

While Noemi is going through a horrible heartbreak (losing her boyfriend to suicide), Louie tells the story of the scary things that happened when he was a teenager. Stories of the Takoda vampire, the Takoda people, and the tamahka (the two great gators). Then there are the people dying and their corpses sitting up during their wakes. Bones in the cemetery are being dug up, and screams can be heard underground. People are going missing.

There are a lot of creepy things happening on the rez.

What I appreciate the most about Medina's stories is the intertwining of myth and folklore into these characters' lives in order to explain the unexplained. Each tale invokes ancient wisdom that helps people understand what is going on inside of them as they battle the monsters around them.

With every Medina book, I always learn so much. I enjoy reading Native American mythology and folklore, especially the scary stories that are passed down from one generation to the next.

Happy Book Release day to Indian Burial Ground by Nick Medina 🥳

Most definitely in my Horror Era & LOVING every minute of it!!

The biggest thank you to Berkley Publishing for this eARC. The opinions are my own. Hands down 5 STARS! Let me share that the excitement I got when I received the email to be a part of this blog tour was unreal!! I immediately moved this to the top of my TBR so I could binge read this chilling, dark and compelling read! It’s part supernatural horror and part mystery! It’s told over dual times and I couldn’t binge read this fast enough! Now, I can’t stop recommending this to my horror fans!! Absolutely haunting!

If you enjoy the following then pick this up immediately & be immersed in Nick’s amazingly awesome storytelling!! The list is quite long but I guarantee this is one you’ll LOVE!

*Atmospheric - CREEPY vibes
*Native American Folklore & Urban Legends
*Generational Drama
*Trauma & Abuse
*Spirits & Demons
*dual timelines
*part mystery / part supernatural horror

And do yourself a favor - do NOT skip the authors note at the end!

It’s funny how the stories we tell ourselves in our youth shape the rest of our lives. Indian Burial Ground by Nick Medina is a story with dual timelines of Uncle Louie and his niece Noemi. Weird things start happening on the reservation. Three graves have been disturbed at the cemetery and bones are discovered missing. Who took the bones and why is only one of this novel’s mysteries. Childhood fears of vampires, death, spirits and myths are uncovered as well. ARC was provided by Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Nick Medina, and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I really enjoyed this. Since reading Firekeeper's Daughter last year, I realized that I needed to read more books by Native American authors and about Native American characters. I didn't realize before starting that Indian Burial Ground was set in Louisiana (which I grew up near by living in southeast Texas), and I enjoyed reading about a tribe set nearish to my hometown. I really was hooked in Louie's chapters; the perspective of his story was so fascinating, and the story really shone in the events that happened leading up to the present day. I was unfortunately not as hooked with Noemi's chapters. She read slightly immature/less developed as a written character than Louie, and I felt that not enough time was set in the present. I think the story would have worked a bit better if it was just Louie's, but I did still like the connection between past and present. There are some truly creepy moments in the story, and it's filled with suspense. I am interested in reading Medina's first book now and continuing to learn about different tribes and customs.

Merging indigenous horror with a bittersweet coming of age story, Indian Burial Ground takes readers to the bayou of Louisiana, to the reservation the Broussard family has lived on for generations. After years of feeling stagnant in her life, 38-year-old Noemi Broussard is finally excited about her future with her loving boyfriend, Roddy. When Roddy dies in an apparent suicide, in a particularly violent and shocking manner, Noemi can’t accept the facts of his death and becomes convinced something more menacing is at play. The key to discovering what really happened to Roddy may lie with Noemi’s Uncle Louie, who has recently returned to tribal lands after more than a decade away, and who experienced something on the reservation as a teenager in 1986 that still haunts him.

The novel unfolds on two timelines, with the mystery of Roddy’s death driving the present-day narrative, but Indian Burial Ground is mostly Louie’s story in 1986, a tale that is just as heartbreaking as it is horrifying. Nick Medina is a skillful storyteller, weaving a slow-burning story about legend and myth, addiction, family drama, mental health issues, and generational/inherited trauma. Medina doesn’t shy away from the hard things, and I don’t just mean the scary stuff: He addresses the complexities of indigenous life, particularly on a reservation, head-on. The horror elements are incredibly unsettling, relayed in Medina’s hypnotic, vivid prose, but he also offers a sensitive portrayal of a complicated family, weighted down by their circumstances but not without hope. This is a book about navigating grief, about growing up and growing away from people we thought would be in our lives forever, about the fierce, protective, forgiving love that bonds a family. And it’s also a book about mythological horrors and evil lurking in the places you least expect. The way Medina balances all of this in the narrative is so creative, nuanced, and compelling.

Indian Burial Ground is a deeply-felt character study, a horror novel, and a complex examination of indigenous life all in one. I can’t wait to go back and read Sisters of the Lost Nation, and I’ll definitely be looking forward to Medina’s future works too. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the early reading opportunity.