This book was a rough go at times, but pushing through was worth it.  I can't give it five stars, because I really REALLY hated all the Victorian jibjab I had to wade through in the beginning, but I sure had a five star feeling when I got to the ending.  So, if you're struggling with this one, try to push through.  It gets better.

This is clever, a story within a story within a story, and it felt a lot different from what I expect from SGJ.  The framing device here is that Etsy Beaucarne  reads a journal from her great great great grandfather, Pastor Arthur Beaucarne, written in 1912, which is in turn transcribing the life story as told to him by the Blackfeet Native, "Good Stab."  

I really like SGJ's writing style, it's the same in almost all of his books, and I count him as one of my favorite authors.  But in this one he changes it up, and writes in an old-fashioned style befitting a journal written in 1912 when it's Arthur's turn.  What he pulls off is impressive.  But the one thing I'm guaranteed to love in a SGJ book was missing, that wry, cynical, earthy humor.  Etsy's voice and Good Stab's voice were fine, they both contained echoes of SGJ's usual style, but the pastor was insufferable.  I started skimming his bits.

Finally, at around 40%, the story grabbed me, it grabbed me hard enough that I forgot my annoyance with Beaucarne’s stupid verbose style and I finally felt the tension of the townspeople.  Without the framing device, there would have been no tension.  (Too bad I hated Arthur so much.)  I became VERY invested in Good Stab's story.  Then at around 60% the tension ratchets up again, what a slow burn this book is!!!  Finally, I did not want to put it down. (Eventually, I realized, we are probably <i>meant</i> to hate Arthur.)  It kept surprising me.

This is a vengeance tale, but I actually wished for more vengeance. I felt like Good Stab really toed a line when he could have gone batshit.

One of the things I really love about vampire and zombie stories is that the author takes an ancient idea and plays with the rules.  I just really like boundary conditions and all the variations possible within the same boundary conditions.  In this world, vampires drink blood, and can only consume blood; they begin to take on the shape of the creature whose blood was consumed.  None of this is a plot spoiler, but if you want to gradually discover the vampire traits in this novel for yourself, I am spoiler tagging the rest of this paragraph:  <spoiler>They cannot drink blood from a dead animal, and if they drink too much at once their sides will burst open to drain the excess.  After drinking, they go into a sort of food coma for a day.  They still have their soul, so to speak, and are aware of what they are doing, remember their past life, and feel all the usual human emotions.  Their eyes are adjusted to night vision, and are sensitive to sun, but otherwise the sun does not harm them.  Vampires are super fast, but  not super strong, however they have little to no pain response, which allows them to perform amazing feats of strength since they can't feel their arm breaking, for example, when they rip someone open; they heal again once they consume more blood.  Because they can heal from almost anything (even fire), they are effectively immortal.  ("Oh, we can die" says the old one ... but never specifies how.)  They do need to breathe air, however (so I guess you could strangle one to death??), and they have a severe reaction to smoking tobacco.  They have a reflection in mirrors, but they leave no footprints, because they are extremely light, and they can leap long distances.  </spoiler>

<b>NOTE:</b>  many of the events and minor characters described in this book were real events and real people, including Mountain Chief, Owl Child, Major Eugene Baker, Joe Kipp, Joe Cobell, Heavy Runner, Bear Head, and the Marias Massacre.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marias_Massacre

Most of the action in this book takes place in Montana, primarily Miles City, the Blackfeet Reservation, and Glacier National Park.  I assume "the Backbone" is the Dragons Tail mountain ridge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragons_Tail_(Montana).

<b>TW: </b> violence, death, assault, massacre, murder, extreme gore, religious blasphemy, and animal deaths (including dogs, and a shitton of buffalo).  Pretty much what you'd expect from a vampire novel.

<b>GLOSSARY </b> The idea that Good Stab would use other terms to describe animals around him but use regular English for everything else felt clever at first, but it quickly became annoying, because some of the terms were just not clear from context.   I spent  a good chunk of the book thinking a "wags his tail" was a dog, which really confused me, until the description of the young having spots and then I realized it was a white tailed deer.  I needed a glossary, and so I created one for myself (some of this is guesswork):   
Big ear - mule       
black horn - bison    
big dirty face - rat? 
big fish - sturgeon
big head - ox?    
big mouth - wolf    
crawls on his belly - a snake    
dirty face - mouse
hard yellow whitehorn milk - butter   
little big mouth - coyote
Little grass eater - a prairie dog   .    
Long legs- elk   moving shadow - moose    
napikwan - white person  
night caller - owl?    
Nittowsinan - the Pikuni land.
Pikuni - the Blackfeet people involved in this story   
prairie runner - pronghorn      
real bear - grizzly bear   
real lion - cougar  
real meat - buffalo meat    
red back - chipmunk? squirrel?  
sharp back - porcupine
silver fish - trout? salmon?  unclear    
sticky mouth - weasel?   
swift runner -rabbit.    
wags his tail - white tailed deer
whitehorn - domestic cattle   
white real bear - polar bear

This book is so many things. First and foremost, it is a dutiful reclamation of language and place. The Nachezehrer's Dark Gospel does not yield to colonizers' words or claims to name land they stole. It is the most enthralling and well earned revenge story I've ever read. The horrors inflicted upon Three-Persons are nightmarishly delightful. It is a master class in setting, pacing, and tone, a true testament to the power and legitimacy of the horror genre. I believe that Jones will go down in history as one of the greatest to have ever done it. This will be the best book I read this year.

As always, Steven Graham Jones manages to terrify me and make me sob in the same story. The characters were all so interesting to read and watching Good Stab through the years tell his story will stick with me. I'll be looking over my shoulder for giant prairie dogs for a long time.

Some of the writing was hard to get through just because it was two languages being used with little to no explanation on the meanings. Most words were easy to figure out the meaning based on context. I like that he chose a vampire/Indian vengeance story to speak about such dark history for America that doesn’t necessarily get talked about enough. Read trigger warnings because there are a lot of things that happen and can be quite graphic.



Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an e-arc for an honest review.

DNF @ 49%

There are so many people with opinions I respect who have only the nicest things to say of Stephen Graham Jones. I understand that he's a hugely beloved author in the Horror space, and also one of the most well regarded Indian authors in genre fiction. I ever so desperately want to enjoy his work.

Unfortunately, this is my third attempt to read from him and I'm still not meshing. I'm not throwing in the towel for good! Mark my words, some day I will totally fall in love with a Stephen Graham Jones book... It's just not gonna be this one.

My hurdles may not be your hurdles, but these are things I generally struggle to read:
- historical fiction
- literary fiction
- slow-paced
- character-driven
- retrospective storytelling framework

Set mostly in 1912, this story is a reminder that the horrors of mankind are never as far in the past as we like to think. The distinctive voices of the three main characters allowed me to enjoy the building tension as I discovered the depth of Good Stab’s story. So I didn’t get bored or antsy waiting for things to pick up. Not at all predictable, which I love, and I appreciate how the author took elements from well known horror novels and made them feel so different. That is so hard to do when it comes to vampire fiction because so much has been written at this point. Stephen Graham Jones is now on my authors to watch list.

Omgggggg. Every time I read a new book by Stephen Graham Jones, that book becomes my favorite of his and it’s happened again where The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is my new favorite. This book blew me away. I loved everything about it and wish I could be reading it for the first time all over again. I don’t want to give anything away, but READ THIS BOOK. If I could give it a million stars, I would!

SGJ and vampires - say less. The story starts out slow as it's told primarily in an epistolary style, but the delivery and story make it 110% worth it. As always, I love the epilogues SGJ does with every novel and I wish more authors would do this - explain their thoughts and processes behind writing their stories. I listened to this one on audio in the couple days after release, and it's so well done. Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for the advanced E-book.

A challenging book at times, but a phenomenal read from one of my favorite authors. As much as I love Jones other works, this is the one I am going to start recommending to folks. While the journal entries, different POVs, and language is difficult at times to maneuver, it paints a beautiful work of literature once it all comes together.

I received an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley,

”What I am is the Indian who can’t die.
I’m the worst dream America ever had.”

Holy shit, man. This is one of those books where you kind of just stare at the ceiling or the wall when you finish, or you want to go walking out into the night to try to wrap your head around it. It’s good, it’s intense, it’s gruesome, it’s bloody, it’s violent, it’s tragic, it’s heartbreaking, and above all, it’s HUMAN.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones is arresting, from title to cover, and if you’re not hooked by either, the plot will snare you in its claws. Good Stab is a Pikuni man cursed by a happenstance of fate into being a vampire, and over the years he decides to hurt those who hurt and slaughtered his people, who were innocent and butchered like they meant nothing at all. The book covers this in three layers: Etsy Beaucarne in the present (well, 2012) has a journal from her great-great-grandfather (or tresayle) pastor Arthur Beaucarne, and Arthur Beaucarne is detailing his own current time (1912) as well as Good Stab’s “confession” of past deeds in the decades prior to 1912. He is sceptical of what Good Stab claims to be and to have done, but slowly grows frantic as Good Stab circles closer to the reason that has drawn him to Miles City to speak with Arthur.

I love the mirror of Arthur Beaucarne unable to stop eating the treats given to him by his flock, not unlike how Good Stab can’t stop feasting on his prey until he’s drunk all their blood or until they’re dead and the blood is no longer good to him. Also it is so clever that Good Stab dubs Arthur to be Three-Persons in that it’s a reference to religion but also his life: his past, then his stint as a pastor, then the fallout after his fateful meeting with Good Stab.

The way that each narrator speaks is interesting, too. Etsy and Good Stab are fairly straight forward in relating the incidents that have happened to them, whereas Arthur is exceedingly wordy, winding long terms into unwieldy sentences like shields to hide behind, a way to put distance between himself and the past deeds he committed.

I don’t really want to give the plot away, but the book is just phenomenal. Really tackles the atrocities committed in the very recent past, and looks at the sins of the father and what one person can do to make up for or to alleviate the pain accumulating over decades. This is a haunting story, but in the best way possible.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“what i am is the indian who can’t die. i’m the worst dream america ever had.”

a terrifying insight into the native american genocide, european colonization, and the marias massacre. this was my first SGJ novel and what a novel to start with. he has such a powerful voice, namely in how he’s able to weave history in with horror so seamlessly. granted, colonization and genocide is horrifying in and of itself. even without the vampires, this story is haunting.

this book is bloody. not for the faint of heart. humans and animals alike face violence unimaginable. but is it so hard to imagine when this is all real? sure the cat man isn’t real but the history is. i think that’s what makes the book so powerful is knowing the violence is only slightly exaggerated. vampires may be fantasy but what happened to the piegan blackfeet people is all real. horror has always reflected history and politics and i think this will become one of the most important horror novels of the 21st century

Stephen Graham Jones is known for his sharp storytelling and his ability to blend horror with cultural commentary, and Buffalo Hunter Hunter is no exception. In this novel, Jones introduces a fresh, new take on vampires, turning the genre on its head with a unique narrative structure and an exploration of identity, family, and survival. Written in an epistolary format—through the use of diary entries—the book offers an intimate, and at times unsettling, journey into the world of vampirism that’s anything but ordinary. This novel is a slow burn compared to Jones’ previous novels, but once we’re introduced to Good Stab, the story flows in a way that we can’t help but wish to know more of.

The epistolary format is one of the book’s most engaging features. Jones uses this structure to create a sense of immediacy and emotional depth, drawing readers into the protagonist’s thoughts and feelings. The story is told through the journal entries of the main character, whose struggle with their own identity and their relationship with the world around them unfolds gradually, revealing layers of complexity with every new entry. It’s a brilliant technique that allows the reader to feel as if they’re uncovering secrets alongside the protagonist, rather than being told a story from a distance.

But what truly sets Buffalo Hunter Hunter apart is its fresh take on vampires. Gone are the brooding, glamorous immortals we’re used to in modern vampire tales. Instead, Jones introduces vampires who are connected to a larger cultural narrative, one that’s rooted in historical trauma, displacement, and the resilience of indigenous communities. The vampires in this novel aren’t just bloodsuckers; they’re symbolic of the larger struggles that people face, and Jones deftly uses the supernatural to explore themes of survival and transformation.

At the heart of the novel is the tension between the Lutheran priest’s curiousity and the vampire Good Stab. Good Stab’s inner conflict is explored with great sensitivity, allowing the reader to feel the weight of their transformation not just physically, but emotionally. It’s a story about grappling with identity and legacy, and the challenges of reconciling personal history with the person you’re becoming.

Jones also delivers plenty of action, suspense, and moments of dark humor throughout the novel, ensuring that it’s not just a thought-provoking piece, but an entertaining one as well. The narrative, while contemplative, doesn’t shy away from the sharp edges of horror, offering thrills alongside its deep philosophical questions.

In conclusion, Buffalo Hunter Hunter is a compelling, innovative take on the vampire genre, presented in a format that’s both engaging and thought-provoking. Stephen Graham Jones masterfully blends supernatural horror with cultural commentary, and the epistolary format adds an extra layer of intimacy to this unique, thrilling story. If you’re looking for a fresh perspective on vampires with a deep, emotional core, this novel is a must-read.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley & Saga Press for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

DNF around 20%
Was disappointed to find the writing more dry than his other works. It felt like reading a textbook. I will give this another shot in the future and will refrain from posting reviews until I give the full story a shot.

I just couldn't get into this book. I went 30% into the book until I stopped. It just got excessive. It was my first time experiencing his writing style and theme. This book was just not for me.

I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

I was exceedingly entertained by this satisfyingly horrific and especially rage filled historical fiction! This was my second Stephen Graham Jones book and I have to say he gives his characters such a special voice and unique vibe each time.
In this story, we meet Arthur Beaucarne, a preacher of dubious integrity in Miles City, Montana. Arthur is most shocked to encounter a Blackfeet native in his church one Sunday and even more surprised when he learns that his new “friend", Good Stab, is there to make a "confession."
It is here that Good Stab slowly reveals his transformation from mere mortal to the "Fullblood" immortal who seeks revenge on the buffalo hunters who have been steadily wiping out the blackhorn population.
A century later, Arthur's description of Good Stab's tale is uncovered by Etsy Beaucarne, forty-something academic attempting to secure her place in life and, coincidentally, Arthur's great-great granddaughter. Will Etsy know what to do when this unimaginable scenario falls in her lap?!
I loved the slow burning progress of this story as it built up to the final horrifying moments bit by bit. This might just be one of my favorite books of the year!

I really liked this one! I think Stephen Graham Jones book's are either a hit or a miss. His writing style can be hard to follow at times but once you get into the flow of it you're fine.

Stephen Graham Jones is a writer whose books are often hard to review. First, he has a distinct writing style that isn't for everyone. I love his writing. For me, it's immersive and I feel he's personally taking me on a journey. That journey is dark and scary but also thoughtful and meaningful. And thus we come to this brilliant novel based on a historical event with the addition of unique vampire mythology. There are no sparkles or longing love stories here. It's brutal and soul searing and when you finish the book, you will most likely sit still and think about it for awhile. That's why I consider Stephen Graham Jones such a brilliant writer. Read this book!

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones (2025) is a moving historical fiction/vampire story that forces us to face our own generational trauma and responsibility. Nearly vibrating with outrage and featuring strikingly distinct prose, this may be the best work I've read out of SGJ, and I've read a lot.

“What I am is the Indian who can’t die. I'm the worst dream America ever had."

Everything about this novel was phenomenal. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is a historical horror novel set in the American west. This is a violent revenge story with one of the best, most unique interpretations of vampire mythology and lore I have ever seen or known to be done.

We follow a vampire known as Good Stab, who shares his story through a series of confessional visits with a Lutheran priest in 1912. That priest kept a journal throughout all of this which was then discovered a century later by his great great grand daughter. The bulk of this story is written in an epistolary format and I love the way this book is structured with our 3 POV characters. I also love the tone with which these three characters speak. Each characters voice is so distinct and unique.

I also really loved the use of diction for Good Stabs character. It felt like I was sitting around a camp fire being told the spookiest ghost story I have ever heard in my entire life. But this is not just a vampire story. This book is richly layered in its historical aspects highlighting some of the worst violences in American history. It tackles colonization and erasure and the rage the indigenous people feel for the taking of their land and what’s been done to them.

Jones shows us in brutal detail how blood thirsty and terrifying vampires really are. He reminds us that they are monsters. And the gruesomeness of this book is something that a lot of people will struggle with, but it serves a purpose in presenting the main message of this story. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is an absolutely brilliant and powerful novel that I think everyone should read.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this ARC! Truthfully, this was a difficult read for me. The pacing felt slow, and the lingo/verbiage throughout the text was too challenging for me. This is likely a personal preference of mine. However I did appreciate the overall storyline. I appreciate the opportunity to read this work, as it was my first read from this author.
I think historical fiction fans will very much appreciate this book, however for me it was a chore to finish.