Not what I expected, but that’s not a bad thing! When I read the blurb for this book I thought I had an idea where the story would go, but I was so wrong. I was invested in the story pretty quickly based on the first few events. Gray wasted no time making you wonder how things were going to turn out for the guys, and then WOW! Hold on to your seat! It’s heavy, it’s dark, it’s full of grief and sorrow, but man is it good! Don’t sleep on this one!

My first time reading anything by William F. Gray and I enjoyed it!

This is the story of 5 grown men following in their fathers' footsteps to go on their annual hunting trip in the Appalachian Mountains - that was their first mistake. So much sh*t goes down in the Appalachian Mountains, I'm surprised the men and their fathers weren't already nervous to go hunting there! I guess if they would have been apprehensive to begin with, we might not have a story! I know I for sure as hell won't be hunting up there anytime soon, or probably ever at all if I have any say over it. Especially after reading this book (I mean this in a good way, I am even more scared of the Appalachian Mountains even though this book is fiction).

Adult men are characters I have difficulty identifying with as a mid-20s woman, but I think the characters started to grow on me as the events of this hunting trip unfold. I think part of this is the horror & action start to ramp up at about a third of the way in and only goes up from there. This acts as an attention grabber and I was rooting for these characters not necessarily because I liked them - they are all deeply flawed men who are in desperate need of therapy - but because the alternative is essentially death. I do think I started to sympathize with them towards the end and I don't think any of them deserve what they got, but did I love the characters? Not particularly. But could that have been the point? IDK if we are meant to like them per se, as they all had made horrible (and some irredeemable) decisions, but at the end of the day none of them warranted the trauma they endured on this trip.

I think using the monster as a metaphor for mental illness is brilliant (even though the monster itself is also very much physical in this novel) - especially since we are focusing on mental illness in men which already has a bad stigma in today's society. Society views men with mental illness as weak, leading to so many men suffering in silence. So many voices silenced by this burden because they don't feel like they will be validated. So many great parallels between men coming face to face with a literal monster and not speaking up for fear of not being believed, in which these same men all have their own traumas they are trying to deal with in harmful ways (think adultery, smoking, & alcoholism).

Would I re-read? Probably not. I generally don't re-read unless I fall in love with a series. While this was a great standalone, I won't pick it up again
Would I read another book by this author? Yea! I liked his writing style and once we got into the meat of the book I didn't want to put it down

Thank you so much to William Gray & NetGalley for providing me with this e-ARC, & introducing me to a new author!


** please note that Amazon does not allow for reviews to be published prior to the book's publication date, but I will be posting that on 2/16 once it's officially published

Our Fathers’ burden by William F. Gray, is a story based upon secrets and the truths we must face in ourselves. Friends, or close to what friends are, are brought together after years apart per the wishes of their fathers. What they remembered as a tradition of camping with their fathers, quickly turns into something more and much deadlier. Gray tells a story full of anger, hatred, fear and dread. Never again will I be comfortable in the woods at night. Gray also did an amazing job at showing that sometimes, the monsters we need to fear and overcome are inside of us, and it takes another monster to make us realize that.

Thank you NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for the opportunity to read this truly spooky ARC!

A group of friends set out into the woods to carry on the long-running camping tradition as their late fathers’ last wish, and find more than they expected in the darkness of the Appalachian mountains…

I’m grateful to have received this book as an arc from netgalley! In Our Fathers’ Burden, William F. Gray gives us a creature feature with more substance under the surface. Ultimately a story of grief, regret, depression, and atonement, we’re taken on a wild ride with these 5 friends as they face the secrets their fathers have been keeping from them their entire lives.

The creature is terrifying, the characters are flawed yet sympathetic (for the most part), and the pace is fast. I had a hard time putting this one down, I had to know whether the friends would make it out alive and what, exactly, was waiting for them on those tapes. With his immersive writing, Gray takes you on an adventure that won’t soon be forgotten.

I really enjoyed my time reading it and would love to read more from this author in the future!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: "Our Fathers' Burden" - A Multi-layered Tale of Horror and Hidden Secrets

William F Gray's "Our Fathers' Burden" delves into a haunting narrative where tragedy befalls Harry's family, leaving him with grief, sorrow, and a mysterious box that unravels shocking revelations about his father's hidden life. As Harry sets out to fulfill his late father's final wish, the story takes an unexpected turn during an annual camping trip with his father's old friends, revealing a dark secret that binds them all.

The novel begins as a slow burn, gradually building tension until it escalates into a chilling exploration of horror, complete with eerie creatures and desolate woodland settings. Gray introduces mental health subtext with a unique writing style that adds depth to the narrative. This aspect might resonate strongly with some readers while potentially alienating others, making it a book that will either be devoured or disliked for the same reason.

The story not only provides a creature feature but also delves into themes of grief, loss, and the struggle to overcome these emotional burdens. "Our Fathers' Burden" goes beyond conventional horror, offering a narrative that prompts readers to think twice about the next camping trip.

While the novel excels in delivering a multi-faceted experience, some readers may find it challenging to keep track of the characters. The fathers and sons, at times, feel interchangeable, and the flashbacks don't always contribute significantly to their development. This occasional confusion may lead to moments where readers lose track of the familial relationships and character dynamics.

Despite this, "Our Fathers' Burden" is a compelling read for those who appreciate a mix of horror, psychological depth, and hidden secrets. Gray weaves a tale that not only entertains with its creature feature but also invites readers to contemplate the complexities of depression, grief, and the shadows that lurk beneath seemingly ordinary lives. If you're ready to embark on a journey that goes beyond the surface of horror, this book is one you won't want to miss.

When Harry‘s dad and his four best friends all die due to different forms of suicide in their last wish is for their sons to go on their annual camping trip Harry who wasn’t close to his dad doesn’t want to go but because it was his dad‘s last wish he decides to do just that but before he does his mom shows him something that his dad left for just him he learned it’s a box of cassette tapes that he’s only to listen to when he’s with the other guys at the camp. When he gets out to the camp with Lou Dennis bob and Dave he first realizes why he never wanted to go on the annual camping trip and how much some of these guys get on his nerves but after they listen to the first tape they learn about the burden their fathers have been carrying for 30 years and that they have now knowingly passed to their boys. What they or about the indoor is a nightmare that not all of them will come out of and those who do will not be the same. Let me just say although this is a horror story I want to say I thought so awesome that in the end those who are left will in one way or another become better men the father‘s never told a soul about the burden they carried because they didn’t want to be left out but by doing that they taught their sons a lesson and that is it’s OK to ask for help. This was an extremely awesome horror story and a great literary achievement because asking for help is not something men tend to do insult to have a book where they face a monster and their own shortcomings was a great idea I think this is a truly awesome book and if you like horror books and books that make you think then you’ll definitely love Our Fathers Burden. As soon as I am done with this review I am definitely going to see what other books this author has to offer because this truly was a horrible that was original in written with great imagination and care. I loved Don’s story and felt so bad for Dave but then again I felt bad for all of them… Well Dennis not so much lol! Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review I want to thank wicked house publishing and NetGalley for my free arccopy.

Book Review

Our Fathers’ Burden
By William F. Gray
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first time reading a book from William F. Gray. I went in blind and didn’t read the synopsis. I really liked doing that so everything is fresh and I have no preconceived notions. I am so pleased that I did because this tumultuous pitch-black beast of a book was mind-blowing. The hallucinatory novel had me on the edge of my seat and then some. This book brought the reader into the grief and depression of each guy man. It showed how they overcame painful and demanding obstacles that were in their way, realistically, figuratively, and emotionally. I liked in the authors note that he mentioned that men in older generations held their emotions inside and bared the responsibility their generation. I still think that is true in today’s society. This is a very powerful book that will grab at a persons heart. I am very excited to read more from him!

Thank you to NetGalley, William F. Gray, and Wicked House Publishing for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

*there may be some spoilers in this, so proceed with caution*

I was fortunate enough to read the ARC of Our Fathers' Burden by William F Gray thanks to NetGalley & Wicked House Publishing. My initial rating was a 2-2.5/5 ★ - but after some ruminating, I think this book gets closer to a 3 ★ star rating from me, as I did enjoy my time reading it and there were many things I liked about it.

Our Fathers' Burden follows 5 young men who go on a trip to the mountains together following the tragic death of all of their fathers. The trip was one that their fathers all went on every year, and after their passing they each left notes to their sons requesting that they continue the tradition in their memory. As the story goes on, it's revealed through the horrors in the mountains that each of the main characters are struggling with grief, addiction, turmoil, and other stressors in their lives. Will they be able to heal from these things? Or will they succumb to the same fate as their fathers before them?

For some context, I started reading this a few short months after my Meme (who was more of a parent to me than a grandmother) had suddenly passed, and so I immediately related to Harry while he was grappling with regret, guilt, and grief after the sudden loss of his father. Some of my favorite horror novels and movies are ones that use horror as a metaphor for grief - so I was immediately interested in this concept. That being said, some of the writing was a bit plain for me. It was an easy read - I finished it all in one sitting. There were some parts that were gripping and so intense, I couldn't stop reading. When we first meet the creature, I was on the edge of my seat. I thought the suspense was great, but I often found myself longing for more description. Many of these moments of action and intensity were overshadowed by how slow and drawn out some other parts were, or they were undercut because the writing in those areas felt rushed and even a bit unfinished (I especially felt this way about the ending - it felt like Gray was rushing to the finish line here.)

Ultimately, I think Our Fathers' Burden had a cool concept but some rocky execution. It reminded me a lot of the film The Ritual, which similarly explores facing the monster that is grief through a trip to the mountains. It had so much potential, but could have been fleshed out more and I think the horror could have been much more effective if it was paced differently.

I was initially interested in each of the 5 main characters, but they all have a very similar voice and most of them weren't developed enough to truly care about them (the one exception being Harry). I wish the book did more showing instead of telling (not just in the instance of the characters, but with the horror and the general plot as well) - it would have benefited the reader to be able to see each of these characters' personalities through their speech patterns and direct actions, to be able to feel true fear about the creature and the dire situation these men are all in. On top of generally lacking a care for the characters, it didn't feel like the stakes were high enough for me to be invested in their survival or rooting for the main 5 in any meaningful way. This is a much shorter novel than the ones I usually read, so I understand that Gray had to be picky about what was and wasn't included. That being said, I would have gladly taken 50-100 more pages to see this more thoroughly developed and get to know the characters a bit better! But that's my personal preference as a reader - if you like a lot of detail and for your books to go more in depth with the characters, this may not be for you. If you're looking for a quick read that doesn't spend too much time in any one area, you might like this better!

All of this being said, I thought the way that Gray tied up each of the character's endings and personal healing was solid. I think it would have been more satisfying if that pay off had felt more earned & the suspense built up more. I love that we get some good endings and some justice. I thought that some of the best horror in this novel was the horrors that some of the main characters had perpetrated or experienced, and I thoroughly enjoyed the way each story line & the overarching story was wrapped up.

Overall, a quick and decent read, but a bit average and not as descriptive or scary as I prefer my horror to be - I think this had more to say than it did and I wish it had been pushed further. Unfortunately, I also noticed several editing & spelling errors throughout the book (even in the author's note), which did pull me out of the story in a few cases. From what I've seen in some quick research, Gray is a relatively new author. I really enjoy what he's trying to say, even if I struggled a bit with how he said it / how it was organized. I'd be interested to read more of his works as his writing & flow develops!

As an added note, I just wanted to offer a critique of the illustrations / images in the book. This is a bit nitpicky and ultimately at the author's discretion, but I wish that the little cassette tapes between sections were illustrations instead of photographs - same with the text message bubbles. I'm really into the ink blots/watercolor splashes throughout the book, and I think it would've been a lot more cohesive for me if the cassette tapes and other images had more of a hand drawn / water color feel. I also didn't think it needed so many cassette tapes, they did get distracting for me at times - I think they would've done better as chapter headers with a simple icon between sections of chapters, but that's my preference.

Our Father's Burden follows a group of five men who was linked by their father's friendship set on going to camping trip after reading their father's letter. The deceased father leaves behind a mysterious box of cassette tapes with a final wish that his son and the other men to go to their old hunting spot. But what awaiting them at the Appalachian Mountains is much more horrifying than what they expected.

This book is a wild ride, I got into it without reading much of the plot. While it's not what I expected, it's still intense, terrifying and shocking. The book was atmospheric, the setting which surrounded by the mountain, the cabin and the wood was creepy enough.. It sparks my panic and fear for the characters as they’re trying to survive.

This book also touches the subject of alcoholic, grief, death, depression etc. It was well done in my opinion. And I love that each of the character have their own flaws and trying to be better.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, I finish it less than a day. But honestly, maybe it just me but I was expecting it to be more bloody and their struggle to fight it was a bit easier than I expected (which does not make sense since their fathers trying hard to protect the thing). But I highly recommend it!! Thank you to NetGalley & Wicked House Publishing for the ARC in return for an honest review

This is my first “Horror Novel” and let’s just say I will be reading more and more books by this Author! Since I do not have any triggers when it comes to books, I loved this read! This was a 4/5 for me and can’t wait to read another horror novel!

This started out so strong. I was absolutely devouring it. But there are three different timelines and about ten characters to keep track of and all too quickly things got confusing. I wish things had been more clear when head and time jumping and better organized. There were also some editing mistakes that further confused things.

This story has a lot of potential. Less is more to keep up the mystery and suspense. A lot of work needs to be done on pacing as well. Tense scenes lost their edge-of-seat quality because they were too slow.

'Our Fathers' Burden' is another great book by William F. Gray, a true gem from start to finish. I devoured it in a couple of days, and still feel sad it ended. The characters grew on me. I miss the atmosphere of the book, the sense of being in the woods, enjoying the dialogue, dealing with the strong emotions it made me feel. But most of all, I miss the fantastic plot and the haunting situations portrayed in the book: the suspense was palpable from very early on, and only lets up a few pages before the end. Although the premise is something you'd find a Stephen King or an Adam Nevill novel (from monsters in caves to a cabin in the woods and male friends on a mountain trip), Gray's style, sober, straightforward, gritty, always with an eye for the really important things, brought the story to an entirely new level. It goes deep into the characters' minds, with an uncanny insight into their souls. Male friendships (or the lack thereof), father-son relationships, family tensions, are explored in detail, and amidst all this there comes a hungry monster, offering us even deeper glimpses into the characters' lives - I felt this author GETS it; he gets horror, he knows how to do it properly. 'Our Fathers Burden' is a captivating read to say the least.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall Review (spoilers)

This was my first five star book of the year. And honestly, if I don’t get another five star this year, this might be my favorite book this year.

I loved the entire way of story telling. From the multiple character POVs, the tape, the mystery around what was said, the hunting trip itself, to the creature and secret was amazing. My only complaint is that I honestly expected the fathers to be killing people every year and that wasn’t what was happening, but that’s on me for reading so many thrillers.

I think this is one of the best books I have read that discuss the difficulty of fatherhood, being a man, relationships, and childhood trauma. The character growth was amazing, and the ending was exactly what each character needed with the exception of those who died. If you want a book that will keep you on your toes, I reccomend this one.

Plot Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Spice Rating: 🌶️

Genre: thriller, murder mystery

Trigger Warnings: sexism, sexual assault implications, child abuse, drinking, torture, death, gore

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book!
I thoroughly enjoyed "Our Father's Burden" by William F Gray. The exploration of mental illness through the monster metaphor, particularly addressing rarely discussed aspects for men, added depth to the narrative. The use of Wendigo lore was captivating, and I appreciated how the author wove it into the horror genre. Despite the flawed characters, I had a great time getting to know them, making it a compelling read that kept me engaged and led me to finish it within a few days.

Thank you to Wicked House Publishing for giving me access to this book through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I highly enjoyed this novel. I had not really read any horror novel I'd classify as a "creature feature" before, and it was not a disappointing first time! At the end of the book there was added an author's note though, where he wrote about some of his own thoughts of the book and how he sees the story and I must say it made me wish I had the time to re-read it with the author's pov in mind! Looking back on the story though, I can clearly see what he means, even though I did not pick up on it while reading. Reading the author's note gave the story much more depth than what I had realized before.

The character's were not really likeable, but they were realistic and as such, quite flawed. Even if not likeable, they were - in various degrees - quite intriguing though.

At first it did come of as a macho-manly testosterone-fest where the big, strong guys who don't talk about feelings go out on a hunting trip, but it turned into so much more than just that. Sure, the women in the story were all close to non-existent and peripheral characters at best, but that turned out to be quite irrelevant. One of the mayor themes in this book was, after all, how taboo it still is for men to show weakness, to ask for help, to talk about feelings. And I do applaud that as it is something that really should be talked about more!

The one thing I wondered about all through the read was that there did not seem to be much technology around. No cameras, mobile phones, internet. As I understood it, the story took place in this time. So that stood out a bit, but that was just a minor detail.

I recommend this one both to those who just want an entertaining horror-read, people not put of by minor to medium levels of gore and also to those who do want to look for the hidden depths in this one - no worries if you do not though, this one can also be well enjoyed just on the surface level as well!

Another awesome horror by William F Gray!
I enjoyed his previous book, and this one shows that the author can be relied on for deep, hard hitting atmospheric horror. An intriguing story in a creepy setting, it touches on plenty of difficult subjects.
An excellent read.

I’m always on the search for the next great horror novel and this one didn’t disappoint! This is a hard one to review without giving too much away, it’s best just diving in for the ride! The cover is what drew me in and I loved the build up and unraveling of this story without really knowing where it was headed. If you like terror in the woods horror, you’re going to love this one. I can’t wait to recommend on pub day!

This book is filled with tragedy, dread, heartbreak, terror, and horror.

It’s a very powerful, atmospheric book that I think William F. Gray did a phenomenal job in setting the perfect atmosphere for.

Reading this book gave me goosebumps, and filled me with a feeling of absolute panic and fear for our characters as they’re trying to survive.

The writing was absolutely beautiful and flawless. I don’t want to give too much away, but even before I read the authors note, I understood what the author was trying to accomplish with the monster. And, I think he did it perfectly.

I loved the character development. It was beautiful towards the end, we see just how much they’ve grown as people.

Dare I say, this has become a favorite of mine already? Yes, I dare. Because it’s absolutely a phenomenal book that I think everyone should read.

This book comes out February 16th, so keep your eyes open for it, and definitely snag it up because it’s absolutely worth it 👏🏻👏🏻

Following the deaths of their fathers, 5 men gather for a hunting trip, a tradition that their fathers did annually. They have been summoned by their fathers and left cassette tapes which will spell out a secret their fathers have carried for decades. But it might be too late as something dark and monstrous is waiting for them in the mountains.

Our Fathers’ Burden is a fast paced plot which carefully unravels the story using multiple perspectives and clever use of flashbacks to reveal everything. There is a lot of heavy subject matter including police violence, alcoholism, student/teacher affairs and infertility which while not the main plot add crucial depth to all of the characters, and nothing is taken lightly.
There is a good blend of gory shock horror and slower anticipation in the story, and everything flows incredibly well.
I did struggle at times to keep every character straight as it jumped from fathers to sons quite quickly but that is a minor detail and it shows how seamless the transitions between characters could be!

I am a big fan of urban legends and folk horror and this played in to that very well, with the isolated setting and fraught relationships between characters this element was really well developed with a real sense of danger. Look out for this, and be careful going into the woods!

Wow! This book was awesome. Went a totally different direction than I first thought but was definitely worth it. One of the creepiest settings I've read in awhile. I will be following this author for the rest of his career. Read. This. Book.