The Night Birds is thick with atmosphere. I was really sucked into this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

Christopher Golden's "The Night Birds" seizes you by the throat from page one and simply refuses to let go. This horror novel moves with such relentless momentum that I found myself physically tensing as I turned each page, completely captivated by the nightmare unfolding.

The premise drops us directly into chaos: Ruby's ordinary life shatters when a desperate stranger appears with an infant—supposedly Ruby's estranged sister's baby—claiming they're fleeing from murderers who will stop at nothing to reclaim the child. Their only sanctuary? A deteriorating half-sunken freighter ship in the middle of the gulf, operated by scientists conducting research. This isolated setting creates the perfect pressure cooker for horror, cutting our characters off from the world as danger closes in from all sides.

This novel goes beyond standard horror fare is Golden's masterful use of environmental elements. The steadily worsening weather mirrors the escalating tension, while the recurring image of those black birds—flying deliberately into houses, their wings beating against windows, their persistent knocking—created such visceral dread that I found myself glancing nervously at my own windows while reading.

This isn't your typical witch story either. Golden reimagines witch mythology in ways that feel both ancient and terrifyingly modern. The terror builds so effectively that during several particularly intense sequences, I had to set the book down and take deep breaths to slow my racing heart.

For horror fans seeking something that combines relentless pacing with genuinely unsettling imagery, "The Night Birds" delivers an experience that will haunt your dreams long after you've turned the final page.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, for my free e-book for review.

This was my third book by Christopher Golden, and while I wouldn't call it my favorite of his, I still found myself intrigued by the premise and swept up in the atmospheric tension - at least for a good portion of the book.

The premise is intriguing, but I must admit that after reading the synopsis, I was a little unsure about where Golden would go with the storyline. Books that deal with witches can be hit or miss for me, especially when they lean too hard into the tired "evil woman out to destroy men" trope. It's outdated, it's boring, and let's be real - it was never accurate to begin with. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see the author veer away from that direction. Instead, he pulled from Slavic folklore, which gave the supernatural elements a fresh and eerie twist without falling into the same old trap of demonizing powerful women for the sake of horror. This fresh angle definitely perked up my interest and added a creepy, authentic vibe.

The setting itself was probably my favorite part. Having spent nearly 17 years in Houston, Texas, I'm no stranger to tropical storms and hurricanes. The premise of people trapped on an abandoned, half-sunken ship during an almost hurricane while being stalked by supernatural beings is the stuff nightmares are made of. Golden captured that eerie, stormy atmosphere so vividly that I swear I could almost feel the wind howling and the waves crashing against the hull.

That said, there was one thing that bugged me about this, and that was that characters repeatedly went out onto the deck during an intense storm to "check on things" and/or "talk privately". Anyone who's been through a hurricane would never think that's a good idea. Each time someone did this, I kept thinking, "What the hell are they doing?" The storms are loud (especially with the waters of the gulf churning around you); this isn't exactly a safe or quiet place to hang out and have a chat.

As far as characters go, I honestly found the side characters to be more interesting than the lead. Charlie Book, our main guy, was okay but felt a bit too generic and too familiar for my liking. His romantic backstory with Ruby Cahill had potential, but it, too, seemed way too familiar - heartbreak, unresolved issues, and lingering tension. This entire plot point felt a little too copy/paste from a romance novel and, in my opinion, lacked any urgency. It wasn't awful, just a bit predictable.

Ruby, on the other hand, was more interesting, mainly because of the desperate situation she finds herself in. She's on the run with Johanna, a super mysterious character, and an infant who's supposedly being hunted by a coven. Johanna was intriguing because you couldn't quite figure out if she was genuinely scared or had something else up her sleeve. That uncertainty definitely kept the pages turning. Johanna is one of the more interesting characters in the book.

My main gripe with this one was that the book started to feel repetitive. The beginning was gripping and packed with suspense, but after a while, the constant cycle of hiding, confronting threats, and running around the ship started to lose its impact. By the end, I found myself wishing the book would wrap things up already.

Still, even with these criticisms, this isn't a terrible book. Golden is great at creating atmosphere and tension, and his writing is perfectly moody for a supernatural thriller. Plus, choosing Slavic folklore instead of the usual Western horror tropes was a smart and refreshing move. While this one might not top my list of Christopher Golden's books, it definitely kept me entertained. If you're in the mood for something stormy, spooky, and folklore-rich - and can overlook some eyebrow-raising decisions by the characters - it's worth giving this one a shot.

The Night Birds had an intriguing premise — a haunted ship and a dark, magical mystery — but ultimately fell a bit flat for me. The eerie, atmospheric setting had great potential, but I struggled to connect with the characters, who felt underdeveloped and difficult to root for. The plot, centered around protecting an infant from witches and black magic, was ambitious but sometimes felt overwhelming.

That said, I can see this appealing to fans of intense, paranormal horror. If you enjoy stories that lean into the dramatic and supernatural, this might be a great fit. While it didn’t fully land for me, I’m still glad I ventured outside my usual reading comfort zone.

Unfortunately this just wasn't for me. I thought that the books i read by him last year was pretty great but this one just missed the mark for me. Great concept, but not well executed. Felt over explained and boring, surprisingly?

Despite having not-loved (hated?) the other 2 books of his I’ve read, I decided to go ahead and get this author’s latest from NetGalley. If I recall, he’s the definition of Great Concept The End. Future Jen: Don’t do this a fourth time. You just don’t gel with this dude. This was the worst one yet.

The great concept this time: an abandoned freighter that has become a ‘floating forest.’ A team of researchers working on it plus some people hiding out from something. And supernatural shit.

My complaints are the same as they were with the other books: fumbled a great concept, stated the same thing 16 different times (like, yeah, I’m dumb, but even I don’t need you to summarize things every other page), not scary, dry, dull, and honestly dumb as shit.

Note to Future Jen: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES are you to read anything else by this author (unless Claire does it first and says it’s worth it). Don’t get sucked in by all-concept nothing-else again.

Christopher Golden’s new novel The Night Birds is terrific. After several rejected attempts to get ARCs of Golden’s novels through NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press finally okayed me and, man, am I happy. Look, I’m an easy sell. On a personal level, Golden has been very nice toward me. We did a book signing together back in 2007 and he showed this young writer how to be gracious and helped sell my book better than I could. I will always respect him for that. Alas, this isn’t about the person but the work, so let’s have at it.

I began The Night Birds without knowing anything about it. I do that with a lot of books, especially those by writers I read on release (as I do with Golden) or with books that come recommended by writers I admire or friends. I wasn’t prepared for what would happen in the novel, and I’m glad for it.

The characters are interesting and endearing. I grew to love several of the characters, even the side characters, which made the horror of the novel more effective. The book takes place on a grounded ship that has a mangrove forest growing in and from it. An excellent vessel for a scary story. But it doesn’t go the way you might think, not at all.

Golden’s writing always flows and easily captures the reader. He takes chances with this novel that are bold and that, ultimately, work very well. There are heartbreaking, scary, and funny moments throughout delivering what every good writer hopes for: an entertaining-as-hell story.

I’m glad NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press hooked me up with The Night Birds and I recommend it to you without hesitation.

Summer time is approaching, but I love spooky Witchy reads all year long. The Night Birds is an eerie and creative horror story that involves a woman on the run seeking protection for a infant who is being hunted by a coven. I enjoyed the slow build and mystery of this one.

The Night Birds has:
🪶 Unique Witch storyline
🪶 Multiple POVs
🪶 Dark + atmospheric setting
🪶 Cat & Mouse vibes

I always enjoy this author's writing style.

Christopher Golden has a way with words and can craft stories that keep you wanting to read and on the edge of your seat. The Night Birds is yet another well crafted story that will gut your emotions while also filling you with dread. Book is an emotionally flawed man who was never able to move on from the past and when said past clashes with the present, Book's world is upended as is his belief in the impossible. Golden weaves an emotionally charged, spellbinding story that will have you finding it hard to put down and will leave you wishing for more! Hold on tight and get your sea legs ready!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this fabulously wicked ARC!

I had high hopes for The Night Birds and for the first 70%, I was fully on board. The atmosphere was eerie and full of slow-building dread. I loved the tension and the quiet unease that simmered beneath the surface. But once the action kicked in, it lost a lot of what made it compelling. The shift from slow-burn to fast-paced felt jarring, and honestly, I found myself losing interest.

For a story that leans into witches and the supernatural, it also felt surprisingly light on actual scares once they arrived. The buildup was great, but the payoff didn’t land for me. I didn’t hate it by any means. It had some really strong moments but it didn’t quite stick the landing.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Christopher Golden for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this novel via NetGalley & St Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

The last thing Charlie Book was expecting is for his ex, Ruby Cahill, to show up during the onset of a major storm with a baby and mysterious woman in tow asking for his help. He brings them aboard the Christabel, a 19th century freighter half-sunken off the shore of Galveston that is home to a floating forest of Mangroves. What he didn’t realize was that the trouble they were running from is a coven of witches being aided by an ancient being that has terrible plans for the baby they stole…

The Night Birds had all the ingredients for a really good horror novel and yet I was so disappointed. Things I enjoyed…love the cover, unique setting, a fun spin on witch lore including an affinity for birds. The relationship between Book and Ruby take up most of the novel and honestly for having such a”history” between each other I didn’t feel a connection at all. The same goes for Ruby and her estranged sister who comes into play later. There were some gory kill scenes but overall this novel was more boring than scary. I have enjoyed so many of Golden’s novels that I tried really hard to love this one but unfortunately it’s my least favorite of all of his works.

While I have liked past Christopher Golden books, I really couldn't get a hold on this one. I felt like the characters never connected and I couldn't fully invest myself into it. I really wish I liked the characters more here. The book also lagged quite a bit.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book. I'm not much of a paranormal fan but this book was a quick read and I enjoyed the characters.

I thought this book was underwhelming in many ways. The premise of the story with a woman showing up on a doorstep with a baby was intriguing, but the whole book felt lackluster. I didn't like any of the characters and I thought they unlikable.

This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The haunted ship setting had a lot of potential (I mean, spooky ships are always creepy), but I never really connected with the characters — there wasn’t much development, and honestly, none of them were all that likable. The plot involved hiding an infant to protect them from witches and black magic, and it just felt like a lot all at once.

That said, I totally get why some readers would eat this up — if you're into over-the-top paranormal horror, this could absolutely be your jam. I tried something new, and even though it wasn't a hit for me, I’m glad I gave it a shot.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.

I am a huge Christopher Golden fan, in particular his Body of Evidence series and the Ben Walker Trilogy. His latest book, The Night Birds, takes a bit of a different route from his other supernatural thrillers, but is a definite must-read.

The Night Birds follows Charlie "Book" a Texas Parks and Wildlife scientist aboard a half-sunken freighter which is home to a unique floating mangrove forest. When a bad storm rolls in to Galveston, Book is planning on riding it out onboard. But then his past love, Ruby, shows back up in his life, with a strange woman (Mae) and a baby (Aiden). They are scared and fleeing from a yet-unknown threat, so Book takes them aboard his boat. But then the trouble finds them anyway leading to the showdown of all showdowns -- good vs. evil; witches vs. humans. Book and Ruby must do everything they can and fight with everything they have to save baby Aiden.

I loved the premise of the book. It beautifully tied together folk horror, supernatural possession, witchcraft, science, and a bit of dysfunctional romance. The relationships between the characters were filled with tension, but it made them real, and likeable. You can't help but cheer for the underdog(s) in this book. There was a perfect amount of blood and gore, and plenty of existential dread.

Fans of Golden's other work will love this one! It is the perfect book for your next book club or binge read! Definitely check this one out!

Another middle of the road horror novel by Christopher Golden. I read him every year and most are 3 stars. Characters are not particularly captivating, interesting, or worth the investment, temporal or emotional. I skimmed my way through the last 30 percent because I was ready to be finished and move on to my next read.

I might take Christopher Golden off my list of authors I just know I'm going to read every year. Unless something just gets a ton of buzz.

Atmospheric, but very mild in the horror department.

I'm not much of a horror reader, but The Night Birds is horror in the way of terror (not too much gore). Christopher Golden does a fantastic job of transporting you into the story and making you actually FEEL the atmosphere. I don't necessarily love love stories in books like this, but it didn't draw too much away from the book overall. Very spooky and worth the read.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: May 6, 2025
Just off the coast of Galveston, Texas sits a deteriorated, half-sunken ship, abandoned and almost lost to nature. Charlie Book and his team have taken on the task of renewing it, to bring it to some of its former glory and turn it into a floating museum. But a storm is coming in, so the team decides to wait it out in a local hotel. All, of course, except for Charlie, who decides to hunker down onboard the “Christabel”, suffering through the storm in solitude. Until his ex-girlfriend, Ruby, shows up, with another young woman and a baby, in desperate need of help. Ruby tells a tale that Charlie can barely believe, about witchcraft and human sacrifice, until he starts to see it with his own eyes and soon, it isn’t just the storm that threatens the “Christabel”, and all the lives on it.
Author of “All Hallows” and “The House of Last Resort”, Christopher Golden’s new novel, “The Night Birds” is a dark and disturbing horror novel set on an abandoned ship in the middle of a rainstorm. You know, just in case you were worried it wouldn’t be scary enough.
Although the novel is narrated by Charlie, with other characters taking over the narration on some chapters, it is the atmosphere that makes this book the terrifying delight that it is. The romantic tension and unresolved issues between Charlie and Ruby are necessary and engaging, and both characters are flawed and human, making them easy to build a quick rapport with. Then Golden throws in the witch’s coven and their ability to transform into some pretty gruesome birdlike creatures and the ultimate horror novel is created.
Golden’s writing is top notch, completely immersing the writer in the plot with his grotesque depictions of the monsters, and pulling readers along for an action-packed adventure that goes up and down with the waves.
“The Night Birds” has all the hallmarks of a superb horror novel. This will be a must-read for Golden fans, but anyone who considers themselves a horror fiction fan will want to pick this one up, too. This is the third novel I’ve read by Golden and I’m so glad he keeps on delivering books like this that exceed my expectations. It goes without saying I’ll be eagerly waiting for his next work.

"The next gripping, atmospheric horror novel from New York Times bestselling author Christopher Golden, set in a deteriorated, half-sunken freighter ship off the coast of Galveston, TX.

Charlie Book and Ruby Cahill have history. After their love ended in heartbreak years ago, they never expected to see each other again.

Now, as part of his work for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Book lives aboard the Christabel, a 19th century freighter half-sunken off the shore of Galveston. Over many years, a massive forest of mangrove trees has grown up through the deck of the ship, creating a startlingly beautiful enigma Book calls the Floating Forest. As a powerful storm churns through the Gulf, he intends to sleep on board as usual.

But when he arrives at the dock, he's stunned to find Ruby there waiting for him. And she's not alone. With her are a mysterious woman and her infant child, asking Book to hide them safely aboard the Christabel while they're on the run. Only it isn't the police who are after them, it's a coven of witches the woman, Mae, has fled, stealing away the helpless infant for whom the coven had hideous plans...or so Mae claims.

It's lunacy and Book wants nothing to do with it. But after the way he and Ruby ended things, and the unspoken pain between them, he can't refuse. Yet even as he brings them out to the ruined ship and its floating forest, there are shadowed figures looming back in Galveston, waiting out the storm. And despite the worsening wind and rain, the night birds are flying, scouring the coastline for their prey."

Personally, I think he could have said no. But then again, we wouldn't have one of Christopher Golden's memorable stories it that were the case.