This will have SPOILERS.

I don’t understand the point or reason behind this book. I thought it would make interesting subject matter with a forest of trees growing on a sunken ship with scientists studying the ecosystems this created. I thought the supernatural part would naturally flow out of this premise. However in the beginning of the book we’re superficially introduced to four scientists who are usually on the boat, but because of an impending tropical storm decide to stay on shore. One of the scientists receives a visit from an old love whom he hasn’t seen in many years saying she, her friend and a baby are in life-threatening danger and could he hide them? He decides to take them to the ship in the middle of the storm, not realizing a coven of bad witches are after them, trying to capture and kill the baby. The rest of the book is nothing but violence against everyone on the boat, as well as the other scientists. There is nothing redeeming about these witches. There is no happy ending here. We’re briefly introduced to characters that don’t stay around long at all, which really doesn’t give you time to care what happens to them. This could have and should have been a different book completely. Why have the unusual forest growing on the boat If it’s going to be nothing but a backdrop in the story? The cover itself is beautiful. My suggestion is if you want to read a good book by this author, try his earlier ones.

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book started slow and then the horror HIT HARD. I liked the small town vibes and the sense of dread that the beginning chapters lent to the story, and then end certainly didn’t pull punches. The way the story came full circle was both sad and satisfying. Part of me wonders if this was an allegory for certain political positions, but maybe I’m thinking too much into it.

Huge TW: Child-Loss - seriously, don’t read it if this is a concern for you.

This book, the cover originally caught my eye, because those colors are stunning, and it really pops off the screen.

But I stayed for the story inside, not what I expected going in, but it looked like isolation horror on some kind of boat, and I LOVE isolation horror.

The story starts with two people, who loved each other until their hearts broke and they parted ways.

You know how that story goes, sometimes love isn't enough and life just gives you the old heave ho.

But there life is again stirring the pot and Ruby shows back up in Charlies life, because Charlie is the one thing she can trust, despite their not so lovely break up.

Charlie finds all this out, in true surprise fashion, its not something you can just text, when he shows up at the dock to get on board the ship he's supposed to be studying wild life and doing science stuff on, which as soon as i knew "science " was happening, i just KNEW this shit was not going to go well, it never does.

So Ruby shows up, strange lady AND baby in hand needing safe passage and begging Charlie, who goes along with it because he cant say no to Ruby and their shared past, no matter how much it hurts, or how crazy the situation currently is.

And thats just the regular part of the book, can we talk about the "night birds" for just a brief second, what in the nightmare fuel are they ??

Supernatural, or is this some genetic engineering gone bad, because of the "pride of man" ?

There are witches or are they "witches" who knows, everything is going wrong for Charlie.

This gave me big Crichton vibes and I miss that mans writing so much, this, this got me close.

Its not Congo, but it gave me that same breakneck, I HAVE to finish this and cannot stop vibes, while also having crazy things happening, and I say "things" because no spoilers but who knows if its demons, ghosts, witches or experiments gone horribly wrong...

I have read a few of Golden's books, but this one took the cake for me, my favorite of what I've read.

I snagged this off of Netgalley and i high HIGHLY recommend checking this creepy boat trip a little read.

In The Night Birds by Christopher Golden, my latest early review book from Net Galley, a mysterious woman and a baby come to Ruby for help. And so she takes them to her ex-boyfriend Book and he hides them all on a half-sunken freighter. There are two problems though: the first is that a storm is raging and while they have a great hiding place, they are also cut off from everything. The second problem? A coven of witches want to kill the baby. Will they all survive the night?

Okay, let’s talk about that awesome setting first! The book is set on a half-sunken freighter during a storm! Sounds like a great setting right? Well, its just as cool as it sounds. Christopher Golden makes excellent use of the setting: its creepy, mysterious, and kind of beautiful. As the story progresses, the setting becomes more and more important. The setting is a character too.

We should also talk about the pace of the book. From the moment the characters set foot on the freighter, the book’s pace goes from five to one thousand. Much like A Light Most Hateful by Hailey Piper and The Way Up is Death by Dan Hanks, The Night Birds is a rollercoaster ride and all you can do is buckle up. This story is super intense, with occasional gore and many absolutely devastating, heartbreaking moments. Christopher Golden does not hold back and delivers a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Also really impressive is the fact that the book also makes you care about each of the characters. Even as things are going downhill fast, the book takes time to introduce backstory quickly and make you care about these characters. You’ll feel it when one of them dies. And yes, a lot of people die in this book!

The Night Birds is an intense horror book that packs an emotional punch and will leave you flat out drained by the end. As horror fans know, those are the best horror books. You won’t want to put this book down and you won’t want to say goodbye. Christopher Golden is an excellent writer. This is the first book I’ve read by him and now I realize: I NEED TO READ MORE OF HIS BOOKS.

I highly recommend The Night Birds. This is going to be yet another can’t miss 2025 release.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing an early digital copy of this book for review. The Night Birds by Christopher Golden releases on May 6th, 2025.

I loved this. Probably my favorite from this author that I’ve read so far. Evil witches, old ship, and the storm of the century. Altogether solid story that was absolutely insane. Is 2025 the year of the witches? I think so.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC. This will be out May of 2025!

Quite an interesting book with lot's of twists and turns! Definitely don't want to get on the wrong side of dark magic. And has the potential to get a series.

Wow, this might be Golden's wildest book yet! A forest on a hundred-year-old ship, a hurricane, a coven of 'don't call us witches,' a violent battle between good and evil, what more could you ask for?

The action ramps up almost immediately, and the tension never wavers. There are some truly unsettling scenes, wonderfully gruesome deaths, and plenty of creepy characters throughout - all elements that many recent horror novels have been lacking. The setting is truly unique, and the atmosphere consistently palpable.

There's a decently large cast of characters to keep track of, but most, including our protagonist Book are solidly created and easy to root for. My favorite was, surprisingly, Mae, our conflicted anti-hero.

Overall, I enjoyed the breakneck pacing of the book, but I would have liked a little more background on the 'not witches' and their mythology. The early conversations attempting to explain their existence were some of the weaker parts of the book, and a little bit awkward. There were also scenes later in the book where supernatural aspects were less effective than they could have been without more context.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Christopher Golden sure knows how to write a thriller that keeps me glued to the edge of my seat and losing sleep, 5 stars!

Charlie Book is a good man who is getting ready to weather a storm. He will ride it out on the Christabel, an abandoned ship used to conduct research for his job. But fate has other ideas, and his former girlfriend Ruby shows up. With her is another woman and a baby, Aiden, desperate for Charlie’s help. He cannot think of a safer place to take them then to the Christabel. But it is not the haven he imagines and soon saving this baby will become near impossible.
Book and Ruby believe they are safe, but something knows exactly where they are and will do whatever it takes to get Aiden back. A fantastic setting that just oozed creepy vibes. Was I sorry how it ended? Yes, but realistically, I knew that not everyone could survive the night.

The Night Birds was fantastic! Thank you for giving me an early copy of this one! I have read a few by this author and I have always had a great time reading his books!

Christopher Golden has crafted an extraordinary and chilling tale of horror, magic, and ancient forces in The Nightbirds.

Charlie Book is a dedicated scientist working for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. His current project is to document the Christabel, a 19th-century freighter that lies half-sunken off the coast of Galveston. Overgrown with mangroves and home to a variety of wildlife, the Christabel has become its own isolated ecosystem, a bizarre but intriguing mix of nature and history. Charlie, along with his team, is studying this unique site with hopes of turning it into a small park—an endeavor that could transform the ship into a vital piece of Galveston’s preservation efforts.

But as a massive storm approaches, threatening the coast, Charlie makes the fateful decision to ride out the tempest aboard the Christabel, while the rest of his team seeks shelter in the safety of local hotels. It’s a choice that will prove to be far more dangerous than he could ever have imagined. Before the storm hits, Charlie’s past reappears in the form of Ruby, his former love. Ruby, now with a baby and a friend in tow. Desperate, Ruby begs Charlie for help, claiming the child is her niece. Despite the strange circumstances, Charlie doesn’t hesitate to offer his assistance.

As the storm rages and the darkness draws closer, the black birds that are commonly seen at night begin to circle ominously. Charlie is faced with a terrifying choice: protect Ruby and the child from the growing evil, or escape before the ancient force consumes them all.

Golden’s writing is masterful in its ability to combine the atmospheric tension of a haunted setting with the suspense of a supernatural thriller. The way he weaves together elements of folklore, magic, and horror makes The Nightbirds a uniquely unsettling experience. The slow, creeping dread builds as you begin to understand the full extent of the evil they are up against, and Golden’s vivid descriptions of the ship, the storm, and the increasingly ominous presence of the birds create a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere that will have you holding your breath until the very end.
#stmartins #thenightbirds #christophergolden #horror #supernatural

Golden continues to impress fans of the horror genre by reinventing himself with every new book. There’s nothing formulaic about Golden and his latest, featuring a derelict ship with the forest growing through it, is full of surprises