I wasn’t sure what SGJ’s interpretation or adaptation of the vampire would be. He’s always managed to bring something new to the table and he does it here too. I think his take on the vampire—which I don’t want to spoil so I’ll remain vague—-adds a really complex layer to the idea of being able to hold onto your humanity, your identity.

In our current literary world that’s full of many takes on the “ethical vampire”, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is a bloody revenge story. It’s a tale on the responsibility those who have caused harm owe and how that can be past down by generations. There are absolutely some more gore heavy scenes in this but the real horror is just American history..

Stephen Graham Jones strikes again with another beautifully written piece of horror that is as heartbreaking as it is unsettling. Set against the stark backdrop of the American West in 1912, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter weaves a tale that is both chilling and deeply rooted in Indigenous history.

The story unfolds through the journal of a Lutheran pastor, whose discovery in a wall decades later reveals a haunting confession from Good Stab, a Blackfeet vampire seeking justice. Each transcribed interview builds layers of terror, grief, and reckoning, tracing the aftermath of a massacre that left 217 Blackfeet dead in the snow.

This isn’t just horror for the sake of fear—it’s a story of survival and vengeance, a sharp critique of historical atrocities, and a reminder of the lingering scars borne by those wronged. The tension is palpable, the prose lyrical, and the atmosphere so thick it feels alive. Every page carries the weight of history, the specter of generational trauma threading through the narrative like a ghost that refuses to rest. The interviews unfold with chilling precision, each revelation cutting deeper than the last.

Stephen Graham Jones proves, yet again, why he’s one of the genre’s finest voices. This is horror with a soul—a tale that lingers long after the final page, whispering truths you won’t be able to forget. Prepare yourself for a journey that will leave you haunted, shaken, and in awe. This isn’t just horror; it’s a reckoning.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada | S&S/Saga Press for the opportunity to read and review The Buffalo Hunter Hunter prior to publication.