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A Hunter Called Night
Not yet published
Expected 31 Dec 30If you enjoyed Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix or Authority by Jeff Vandermeer, then you'll love this latest horror novel from the Bram Stoker award-winning author Tim Waggoner.
A sinister being called Night and her panther-like Harriers stalk their quarry, a man known only as Arron. Arron seeks refuge within an office building, a place Night cannot go, for it’s part of the civilized world, and she’s a creature of the Wild. To flush Arron out, she creates Blight, a reality-warping field that slowly transforms the building and its occupants in horrible and deadly ways. But unknown to Night, while she waits for the Blight to do its work, a group of survivors from a previous attempt to capture Arron are coming for her. The hunter is now the hunted.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress
A sinister being called Night and her panther-like Harriers stalk their quarry, a man known only as Arron. Arron seeks refuge within an office building, a place Night cannot go, for it’s part of the civilized world, and she’s a creature of the Wild. To flush Arron out, she creates Blight, a reality-warping field that slowly transforms the building and its occupants in horrible and deadly ways. But unknown to Night, while she waits for the Blight to do its work, a group of survivors from a previous attempt to capture Arron are coming for her. The hunter is now the hunted.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress
256 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication December 31, 2030
4 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Tim Waggoner
282 books756 followersTim Waggoner's first novel came out in 2001, and since then, he's published over sixty novels and eight collections of short stories. He writes original dark fantasy and horror, as well as media tie-ins. He's written tie-in fiction based on Supernatural, The X-Files, Alien, Doctor Who, Conan the Barbarian, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Grimm, and Transformers, among others, and he's written novelizations for films such as Ti West’s X-Trilogy, Halloween Kills, Terrifier 2 and 3, and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. He’s also the author of the award-winning guide to horror Writing in the Dark. He’s a four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award, a one-time winner of the Scribe Award, and he’s been a two-time finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award and a one-time finalist for the Splatterpunk Award. He’s also a full-time tenured professor who teaches creative writing and composition at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
December 3, 2024
A Horrifying and Entertaining Trip Into the Seriously Demented Mind Of Tim Waggoner!
Arron is running as if his life depended on not stopping because that is what he continues to tell himself. He might very well die today! He must get out of the wild before she catches him but he must first reach civilized society first. He has been running from her for five years and now she almost has him unless be can find some people who are willing to help him stay alive.
The day begins like any other as the usual customers flock into the coffee house for their morning kick-start of caffeine to get them through the first half of their workday. Most of the patrons work in the same building so it makes life easier getting their coffee here. Suddenly many of the customers wrinkle their noses in disgust at a pungent, earthy, animal smell belonging to a strange man in unusual clothing who just ran through the doors of the cafe and he seemed to be uncomfortable and nervous while he got in line for his beverage because he reallly didn't seem to need an adrenaline boost.
Within a short time Arron locks eyes with several people that he thinks will help him but as the minutes fly by, do any of these people have a choice in their new destiny? If they knew what the day held for all of them could they have done things differently?
Where did Aaron come from? Who is the woman that is after him and what are those monstrous feline pets she keeps at her side willing to maim and kill anyone who tries to hurt their mistress. Many people will die today just as they did five years ago when the woman called Night almost captured Arron but he was able to hide and elude Night up until today!
This was quite an imaginative and shocking, gore-fest of a horror book. There were quite a few main characters that carried the story and I'm surprised that I didn't get lost with all the different bylines, but the book was written so well that it was easy to keep track of everyone and their different situations. The story was a lot of fun with many ghastly surprises (no ghosts) although there were monsters and creatures that were so repulsive but wonderfully creative that sometimes made my stomach a little queasy.
Please be forewarned this is not an innocent or cutesy horror book. The violence and bloodshed is downright nasty at times but for the readers who like blood, gore and horrific violence then this book is for you. The enjoyable perks of humor thrown in with the nasties made this a vicious, unique and tantalizing story that was also the perfect length and not long and drawn out.
Read at your own risk! Highly recommend to horror lovers only!
I want to thank the publisher "Flame Tree Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this book a rating of 4 VIOLENT AND GORE-FILLED 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
Arron is running as if his life depended on not stopping because that is what he continues to tell himself. He might very well die today! He must get out of the wild before she catches him but he must first reach civilized society first. He has been running from her for five years and now she almost has him unless be can find some people who are willing to help him stay alive.
The day begins like any other as the usual customers flock into the coffee house for their morning kick-start of caffeine to get them through the first half of their workday. Most of the patrons work in the same building so it makes life easier getting their coffee here. Suddenly many of the customers wrinkle their noses in disgust at a pungent, earthy, animal smell belonging to a strange man in unusual clothing who just ran through the doors of the cafe and he seemed to be uncomfortable and nervous while he got in line for his beverage because he reallly didn't seem to need an adrenaline boost.
Within a short time Arron locks eyes with several people that he thinks will help him but as the minutes fly by, do any of these people have a choice in their new destiny? If they knew what the day held for all of them could they have done things differently?
Where did Aaron come from? Who is the woman that is after him and what are those monstrous feline pets she keeps at her side willing to maim and kill anyone who tries to hurt their mistress. Many people will die today just as they did five years ago when the woman called Night almost captured Arron but he was able to hide and elude Night up until today!
This was quite an imaginative and shocking, gore-fest of a horror book. There were quite a few main characters that carried the story and I'm surprised that I didn't get lost with all the different bylines, but the book was written so well that it was easy to keep track of everyone and their different situations. The story was a lot of fun with many ghastly surprises (no ghosts) although there were monsters and creatures that were so repulsive but wonderfully creative that sometimes made my stomach a little queasy.
Please be forewarned this is not an innocent or cutesy horror book. The violence and bloodshed is downright nasty at times but for the readers who like blood, gore and horrific violence then this book is for you. The enjoyable perks of humor thrown in with the nasties made this a vicious, unique and tantalizing story that was also the perfect length and not long and drawn out.
Read at your own risk! Highly recommend to horror lovers only!
I want to thank the publisher "Flame Tree Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this book a rating of 4 VIOLENT AND GORE-FILLED 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
May 14, 2023
A Hunter Called Night was an interesting fantasy horror.
'She swayed on her feet for a second, and in her mind, she saw a mountainous form on four gigantic legs moving ponderously through dim mists lit by coruscating lightning. She had trouble making out the thing's features, except its glittering yellow eyes, which sliced through the darkness like lasers.'
Night, a dark and deadly creature, and her fierce Harriers chase a man called Arron. He escapes into an office building, where Night can't follow. She belongs to the Wild, not the civilized world. She unleashes Blight, a power that twists the building and its people into horrors. But she doesn't know that some survivors from her past are coming for her. They want to stop her and save Arron. She is no longer the hunter, but the prey.
The author has a vivid imagination and creates some creepy and surreal scenes in the world he created. However, I felt the characters were not well-developed and the plot was a little predictable. The writing style was also too simple for my taste, in some ways it had the feeling of a YA novel.
I would recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy and horror but don't expect anything too deep or hugely original.
'She swayed on her feet for a second, and in her mind, she saw a mountainous form on four gigantic legs moving ponderously through dim mists lit by coruscating lightning. She had trouble making out the thing's features, except its glittering yellow eyes, which sliced through the darkness like lasers.'
Night, a dark and deadly creature, and her fierce Harriers chase a man called Arron. He escapes into an office building, where Night can't follow. She belongs to the Wild, not the civilized world. She unleashes Blight, a power that twists the building and its people into horrors. But she doesn't know that some survivors from her past are coming for her. They want to stop her and save Arron. She is no longer the hunter, but the prey.
The author has a vivid imagination and creates some creepy and surreal scenes in the world he created. However, I felt the characters were not well-developed and the plot was a little predictable. The writing style was also too simple for my taste, in some ways it had the feeling of a YA novel.
I would recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy and horror but don't expect anything too deep or hugely original.
July 31, 2023
A sinister being called Night and her panther-like Harriers stalk their quarry, a man known only as Arron. Arron seeks refuge within an office building, a place Night cannot go, for it’s part of the civilized world, and she’s a creature of the Wild. To flush Arron out, she creates Blight, a reality-warping field that slowly transforms the building and its occupants in horrible and deadly ways. But unknown to Night, while she waits for the Blight to do its work, a group of survivors from a previous attempt to capture Arron are coming for her. The hunter is now the hunted.
This was an unexpected hidden gem that I really really enjoyed. It was the perfect amalgamation between fantasy and thriller and I really enjoyed Waggoner’s characterisation. With a dual time line you unravel the mystery of Night and Arron’s ongoing battle and are sucked in to the storylines of those who unfortunately cross their path.
My only qualm for the novel is that I felt after the HUGE twist, that I did NOT see coming, the ending fell a little flat, but this is only a small issue with what was an overall great read!
This was an unexpected hidden gem that I really really enjoyed. It was the perfect amalgamation between fantasy and thriller and I really enjoyed Waggoner’s characterisation. With a dual time line you unravel the mystery of Night and Arron’s ongoing battle and are sucked in to the storylines of those who unfortunately cross their path.
My only qualm for the novel is that I felt after the HUGE twist, that I did NOT see coming, the ending fell a little flat, but this is only a small issue with what was an overall great read!
April 11, 2023
***NetGalley Review***
This book is a masterpiece of contained chaos and I loved every page! I was reminded of a movie where we’re introduced to a group of strangers who through a series of seriously demented and unfortunate events become intertwined in a web of weirdness.
Each chapter introduces either a new character of another piece to the fantastical puzzle from hell. You get a hint of a heist story but with werewolves, vampires, and blobs. Oh yeah, and a big a$$ bear!
The writing is straightforward and fluid making for a quick and easy read. There are several grammatical errors, not a ton, but I definitely hope an editor can fix them before the official release.
10/10 would recommend
Follow on Twitter @ReadWatchDNF
This book is a masterpiece of contained chaos and I loved every page! I was reminded of a movie where we’re introduced to a group of strangers who through a series of seriously demented and unfortunate events become intertwined in a web of weirdness.
Each chapter introduces either a new character of another piece to the fantastical puzzle from hell. You get a hint of a heist story but with werewolves, vampires, and blobs. Oh yeah, and a big a$$ bear!
The writing is straightforward and fluid making for a quick and easy read. There are several grammatical errors, not a ton, but I definitely hope an editor can fix them before the official release.
10/10 would recommend
Follow on Twitter @ReadWatchDNF
March 4, 2023
It's gory, it's ghastly, and it's great!
Tim Waggoner is the most creative killer in the horror genre world. Don't believe me? - let me explain. His books are genuinely some of the most creepy and terrifying and fun reads that I have experienced. This book in particular follows Night on her seemingly never ending hunt for Arron. Following Night are her scary panther warriors, vicious and deadly and all too eager for their prey. Throw in a few other deadly creatures, the classic Waggoner terrifying mutations, and you have this masterpiece of horror.
I genuinely cannot describe or put into words how terrifying this book was. I found myself unnerved, creeped out, ICKED, and more. This book is very fast paced and has a lot of readers. (Though I'm starting to think that Mr. Waggoner might have a phobia around dentistry/orthodontist). ((No seriously I'm starting to develop one too)). There are so many elements of this story that some might feel it's too much, but it truly is JUST PERFECT. I could easily see this book being nominated for another Bram Stoker. I just genuinely loved this book and you will too.
Tim Waggoner is the most creative killer in the horror genre world. Don't believe me? - let me explain. His books are genuinely some of the most creepy and terrifying and fun reads that I have experienced. This book in particular follows Night on her seemingly never ending hunt for Arron. Following Night are her scary panther warriors, vicious and deadly and all too eager for their prey. Throw in a few other deadly creatures, the classic Waggoner terrifying mutations, and you have this masterpiece of horror.
I genuinely cannot describe or put into words how terrifying this book was. I found myself unnerved, creeped out, ICKED, and more. This book is very fast paced and has a lot of readers. (Though I'm starting to think that Mr. Waggoner might have a phobia around dentistry/orthodontist). ((No seriously I'm starting to develop one too)). There are so many elements of this story that some might feel it's too much, but it truly is JUST PERFECT. I could easily see this book being nominated for another Bram Stoker. I just genuinely loved this book and you will too.
March 19, 2023
A Hunter Called Night is about a mysterious man named Arron who is on the run from a supernatural creature named Night. Arron barricades himself in an office building, putting the lives of all the employees there in danger. It's macabre, grotesque, and impossible to put down. An excellent horror novel with all the trigger warnings.
Longer review to come.
Longer review to come.
June 14, 2025
This book is a rip roaring ride about a supernatural game of cat and mouse with a group of humans caught in the middle.
Night is a woman from another dimension who has four "pets" in the form of black panther like beasts called harriers. There's a mystery surrounding her as well as her intended prey.
When their chase brings them to an office building, the humans inside start to change and become unwilling participants in their war.
I love the whole concept of this and it's part dark fantasy, and part bloody horror. But the characters (human and supernatural alike) all have something different and intriguing to offer and the author let's us get to know these people enough so we want them to live. Alas, not all of them will but when these deaths happen, it's a pretty big shock since we're rooting for them.
Once we begin to learn more about Night and where she comes from, we become aware that there's more to this story than just this particular "hunt" and it's going to have dire consequences for all involved.
This book is exciting, action packed, keeps you on your toes, and has a fantastic world beyond our own. I definitely recommend it!
Night is a woman from another dimension who has four "pets" in the form of black panther like beasts called harriers. There's a mystery surrounding her as well as her intended prey.
When their chase brings them to an office building, the humans inside start to change and become unwilling participants in their war.
I love the whole concept of this and it's part dark fantasy, and part bloody horror. But the characters (human and supernatural alike) all have something different and intriguing to offer and the author let's us get to know these people enough so we want them to live. Alas, not all of them will but when these deaths happen, it's a pretty big shock since we're rooting for them.
Once we begin to learn more about Night and where she comes from, we become aware that there's more to this story than just this particular "hunt" and it's going to have dire consequences for all involved.
This book is exciting, action packed, keeps you on your toes, and has a fantastic world beyond our own. I definitely recommend it!
July 25, 2023
So, initially the author and book synopsis was the draw for me!
I’ve read some of Waggoner’s other work and enjoyed it. This sounded like a grim, dark fantasy, horror mashup.
It fell more into the dark fantasy category when I was reading (albeit with some gruesome scenes), however it still fell a little flat for me.
There were some epic moments, and interesting characters, but I kept having to restart this story because it wouldn’t keep me interested.
It’s long (or at least it felt that way to me despite a page count in the 200s 😂), and some parts felt unnecessary. If it was trimmed down and more focused on the immediate characters and problems then I think I would’ve been more captivated.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Flame Tree Press for a copy.
I’ve read some of Waggoner’s other work and enjoyed it. This sounded like a grim, dark fantasy, horror mashup.
It fell more into the dark fantasy category when I was reading (albeit with some gruesome scenes), however it still fell a little flat for me.
There were some epic moments, and interesting characters, but I kept having to restart this story because it wouldn’t keep me interested.
It’s long (or at least it felt that way to me despite a page count in the 200s 😂), and some parts felt unnecessary. If it was trimmed down and more focused on the immediate characters and problems then I think I would’ve been more captivated.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Flame Tree Press for a copy.
March 2, 2023
This was such a fun, fast paced, action packed novel. I could not put it down. It was a brilliant mix of fantasy and thriller.
April 1, 2023
Even having read the synopsis, I didn't know what to expect going into A Hunter Called Night. Enough of it sounded intriguing that I decided to give it a try, and what I found was a briskly paced, fun, "weekend movie" horror story.
The blurb on the back of the book states "a reality-warping field that slowly transforms the building and its occupants in horrible and deadly ways" and boy is that an understatement. I was fascinated, and in some cases absolutely disgusted, by the changes some of the occupants underwent. It was like reading the origin stories of my favorite Marvel mutants, except I had no desire to have any of their powers.
The writing is very clean, and the story is told from a plethora of viewpoints. You would think the sheer amount of characters would make for a muddled mess, but Waggoner did a great job of giving them each a clearly distinctive voice. Action scenes, of which there are plenty, are described well, and in gory detail. I especially liked the switching of perspectives during the same action sequence, as it segmented the fights in a way that made it very clear what was happening.
Up until about the 70% mark, I was loving the book and ready to give it 4 stars. I was rapidly approaching the culmination of the story and...it just fell flat. I really didn't like how rushed the ending felt. I remember seeing I had 20 pages left and thinking "This can't possibly wrap up well in this amount of time" and it didn't for me. Enough to knock a star off.
Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and I would recommend it to any fan of horror. It's a quick, fun read and I would watch the hell out of a movie, but I might turn it off a liiittle bit early.
Thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The blurb on the back of the book states "a reality-warping field that slowly transforms the building and its occupants in horrible and deadly ways" and boy is that an understatement. I was fascinated, and in some cases absolutely disgusted, by the changes some of the occupants underwent. It was like reading the origin stories of my favorite Marvel mutants, except I had no desire to have any of their powers.
The writing is very clean, and the story is told from a plethora of viewpoints. You would think the sheer amount of characters would make for a muddled mess, but Waggoner did a great job of giving them each a clearly distinctive voice. Action scenes, of which there are plenty, are described well, and in gory detail. I especially liked the switching of perspectives during the same action sequence, as it segmented the fights in a way that made it very clear what was happening.
Up until about the 70% mark, I was loving the book and ready to give it 4 stars. I was rapidly approaching the culmination of the story and...it just fell flat. I really didn't like how rushed the ending felt. I remember seeing I had 20 pages left and thinking "This can't possibly wrap up well in this amount of time" and it didn't for me. Enough to knock a star off.
Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and I would recommend it to any fan of horror. It's a quick, fun read and I would watch the hell out of a movie, but I might turn it off a liiittle bit early.
Thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2023
I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into with A Hunter Called Night. It was much more fantasy world building than horror for me.
This covered two timelines and had many characters. I did enjoy the present timeline and setting. One of those office buildings with all kinds of different businesses; Therapy, Orthodontics, Weight-Loss, Blood Testing. This created all kinds of different characters and situations. My favorite was the phlebotomist turned vampire with needles for fingers.
I felt like I didn’t get invested enough in any of the characters. I wanted to like Arron, who seemed like the main protagonist, but I didn’t feel his character had much of a back story.
There was a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming and the last several chapters were really fun to read.
This covered two timelines and had many characters. I did enjoy the present timeline and setting. One of those office buildings with all kinds of different businesses; Therapy, Orthodontics, Weight-Loss, Blood Testing. This created all kinds of different characters and situations. My favorite was the phlebotomist turned vampire with needles for fingers.
I felt like I didn’t get invested enough in any of the characters. I wanted to like Arron, who seemed like the main protagonist, but I didn’t feel his character had much of a back story.
There was a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming and the last several chapters were really fun to read.
March 26, 2023
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
***
The author of this book is what drew me in even though the blurb felt a little awkward.
I was lost almost immediately and had to restart. I'm not sure if it was hard to focus on or if the language itself was keeping me disengaged. However, the second go was helpful and I was able to get through the book.
That being said, I love the premise. It's interesting and there's a solid amount of gore too.
***
The author of this book is what drew me in even though the blurb felt a little awkward.
I was lost almost immediately and had to restart. I'm not sure if it was hard to focus on or if the language itself was keeping me disengaged. However, the second go was helpful and I was able to get through the book.
That being said, I love the premise. It's interesting and there's a solid amount of gore too.
July 25, 2024
I was pretty enthused to read A Hunter Called Night, Tim Waggoner is one of those authors who rides the line between fantasy and horror and usually gives you something unique to read as a result. Night is definitely true to the fantasy meets horror themes of Waggoner's work, This one being something of a late night movie premise like Full Moon Features might make in one of their more fantasy centered films. If you're looking for something with lots of characters, a unique premise, and fairly short length this certainly fits the bill. However, this also means that if you're more of a fan of depth of plot and rich character development you might not be as satisfied as you hoped. This is definitely more of a quick popcorn plot, not necessarily a bad thing if you want something fun and simple, mind you, just not quite what I was hoping for personally.
I like the idea of a mysterious hunter and a group of random folks being pulled into the hunt, but I found myself feeling like maybe I would have gotten more from the resulting book if it had been more fleshed out and the characters had felt more grounded in their identities, particularly with the personality shift that came over them when the blight changed them. Sure, the blight corrupts, but would it so thoroughly change them that they'd become flatter as well as bring out these baser instincts? Would they not have some internal conflicts about this, especially if they were fairly decent people beforehand? We have a bit of this with some of our core characters but not with most of the other characters. It really could have grounded the horror a bit more and helped us to understand the corruption and it's effects. This seemed to be especially true of the male characters, who were more likely to flip into sexual and murderous mode no matter who they were or appeared to be before the night's effects took over. This made sense with some characters, but others made this shift with no regard for who they were and this was disconcerting- in fact, this coupled with some of the female characters being stereotypically bitchy and manipulative made the book more difficult to read.
I would have preferred to know a bit more about the hunt, the world Night and her Harriers come from, and some deeper ideas about why the hunt happens. I'm not entirely certain the ending quite fit the characters as presented either. The reveal and battle could've used a lot more detail to stick the landing for me too. All that being said, I don't think this book is necessarily going to be an issue for everyone. If you want something you can pick up and enjoy in a fairly short amount of time this would be right for you, especially if you're in the mood for something of a B movie.
I like the idea of a mysterious hunter and a group of random folks being pulled into the hunt, but I found myself feeling like maybe I would have gotten more from the resulting book if it had been more fleshed out and the characters had felt more grounded in their identities, particularly with the personality shift that came over them when the blight changed them. Sure, the blight corrupts, but would it so thoroughly change them that they'd become flatter as well as bring out these baser instincts? Would they not have some internal conflicts about this, especially if they were fairly decent people beforehand? We have a bit of this with some of our core characters but not with most of the other characters. It really could have grounded the horror a bit more and helped us to understand the corruption and it's effects. This seemed to be especially true of the male characters, who were more likely to flip into sexual and murderous mode no matter who they were or appeared to be before the night's effects took over. This made sense with some characters, but others made this shift with no regard for who they were and this was disconcerting- in fact, this coupled with some of the female characters being stereotypically bitchy and manipulative made the book more difficult to read.
I would have preferred to know a bit more about the hunt, the world Night and her Harriers come from, and some deeper ideas about why the hunt happens. I'm not entirely certain the ending quite fit the characters as presented either. The reveal and battle could've used a lot more detail to stick the landing for me too. All that being said, I don't think this book is necessarily going to be an issue for everyone. If you want something you can pick up and enjoy in a fairly short amount of time this would be right for you, especially if you're in the mood for something of a B movie.
April 27, 2023
I had mixed views on this one but I have to say that I did find it very original and I kept wanting to see how it ended, so it was worth it!
Without any explanation we're brought into the action from page 1 where a powerful and beautiful woman called Night and her panthers pets are hunting down a man called Arron. Meanwhile he's hiding into a building where Night and her panthers can't go in as they can't step into a "civilised" place.
As Night starts spreading a Blight, a moldy looking stuff that transforms everything artificial into wilderness again so that she can gain access, at this point it's where things become really crazy and everyone in the building starts changing without understanding what's happening. Meanwhile the hunter Night is also hunted down by a group of people with incredible powers that want their revenge!
I found this read very interesting and unique as I've never read anything like it, a mix of horror and fantasy very well written. Throughout the story the book goes back and forth present and future and although it made sense in the end, I struggled to understand why at times. Also in the first part of the book we are introduced to lots of people one after another without giving time to the reader to digest all the information.
Having said that, the revelation and the twists at the end made all of the downsides really worth it and I would really encourage you to read it!
One of my favourite quotes was: "This is a place of illusion. In the Wild, there is nothing that is unreal - things either are or they aren't. But humans are geniuses when it comes to deception, especially when they are deceiving themselves".
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read it and this is my honest review.
Without any explanation we're brought into the action from page 1 where a powerful and beautiful woman called Night and her panthers pets are hunting down a man called Arron. Meanwhile he's hiding into a building where Night and her panthers can't go in as they can't step into a "civilised" place.
As Night starts spreading a Blight, a moldy looking stuff that transforms everything artificial into wilderness again so that she can gain access, at this point it's where things become really crazy and everyone in the building starts changing without understanding what's happening. Meanwhile the hunter Night is also hunted down by a group of people with incredible powers that want their revenge!
I found this read very interesting and unique as I've never read anything like it, a mix of horror and fantasy very well written. Throughout the story the book goes back and forth present and future and although it made sense in the end, I struggled to understand why at times. Also in the first part of the book we are introduced to lots of people one after another without giving time to the reader to digest all the information.
Having said that, the revelation and the twists at the end made all of the downsides really worth it and I would really encourage you to read it!
One of my favourite quotes was: "This is a place of illusion. In the Wild, there is nothing that is unreal - things either are or they aren't. But humans are geniuses when it comes to deception, especially when they are deceiving themselves".
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read it and this is my honest review.
May 9, 2023
“In the beginning, the Omniverse was dark and formless, and then the Gyre opened its great mouth and vomited forth all realities….”
Tim Waggoner’s novel is an addictive horror story where Arron is on the run and seeking refuge in an office building. Hunting him is a sinister being called Night. Not of this world and with her panther like harriers, she seeks to flush out Arron by creating a Blight. A reality bending force that transforms the building and those inside into something deadly and otherworldly. Little does Night know that a group of survivors from a previous attempt are also hunting her down to put an end to this once and for all. The hunter has now become the hunted.
The novel has been said to appeal to fans of Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix or Authority by Jeff Vandermeer. I’ve read both of those books which had me interested in this one straight away.
Firstly it’s such and easy one to get lost in quickly. The pacing and dialogue were easy to follow to the point I didn’t want to put it down. In a true horror story style this hunt that we are introduced to progresses quickly into something full of macabre and dark events.
What I loved about these incidents that occur was how explicitly they were written. There was no shying away from the gore and disgusting imagery which made the scenes more real and thrilling to experience.
I liked the premise of “the hunt” however I was in for a surprise when the truth about what the actual hunt was about. That made me shout out “WTF” 😆 I loved it though.
This was a fast paced horror story with monsters and other dark beings. With some vivid imagery and a cool twist I think a lot of readers would enjoy it.
Many thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy. A Hunter Called Night is out May 9th.
Tim Waggoner’s novel is an addictive horror story where Arron is on the run and seeking refuge in an office building. Hunting him is a sinister being called Night. Not of this world and with her panther like harriers, she seeks to flush out Arron by creating a Blight. A reality bending force that transforms the building and those inside into something deadly and otherworldly. Little does Night know that a group of survivors from a previous attempt are also hunting her down to put an end to this once and for all. The hunter has now become the hunted.
The novel has been said to appeal to fans of Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix or Authority by Jeff Vandermeer. I’ve read both of those books which had me interested in this one straight away.
Firstly it’s such and easy one to get lost in quickly. The pacing and dialogue were easy to follow to the point I didn’t want to put it down. In a true horror story style this hunt that we are introduced to progresses quickly into something full of macabre and dark events.
What I loved about these incidents that occur was how explicitly they were written. There was no shying away from the gore and disgusting imagery which made the scenes more real and thrilling to experience.
I liked the premise of “the hunt” however I was in for a surprise when the truth about what the actual hunt was about. That made me shout out “WTF” 😆 I loved it though.
This was a fast paced horror story with monsters and other dark beings. With some vivid imagery and a cool twist I think a lot of readers would enjoy it.
Many thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy. A Hunter Called Night is out May 9th.
April 29, 2023
When I read the summary for this book I could not wait to read it and I must say it lived up to all my expectations a hunter call Night is hunting a man name Aaron but the hunter and her four cats which are called herras cannot go where civilization is but she can send a blight to ruin the civilization wherever the blight goes the hunter and her cats can then walk over it but if humans walk over it it changes them either into warriors for the night or people that are willing to help Aaron.Little does the Night know back in Bullock Ohio she left four people alive who were helping Aaron but now they are hunting her. There is way more to the story than my brief summary there was the reason why Night is hunting Aaron in the first place which OMG what a twist was not expecting that! We get to meet the king of the wild and he is scary on his own. Is this was just a book about how people become superheroes it would’ve been awesome because there’s that… But OMG the storyline grabs you at the beginning and does not let you go until it’s over and when it’s over just a fair warning you will totally contemplate what you read. I read this book yesterday and woke up thinking about it it’s a totally immersive read in one you will not want to put down. I have never read a book by this author but signed me up because I definitely am going to read more from him in the near future. I received this book from NetGalley and Flame Tree press but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
May 9, 2023
ARC Review A Hunter Called Night by Tim Waggoner
I was given an advanced reader copy by @netgalley and @flametreepress @timwaggoner My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #AHunterCalledNight #TimWaggoner #FlameTreePress #ARCBookReview #Horror #NetGalley #BookReview #gifted
A Hunter Called Night is everything you come to expect from a Tim Waggoner novel. It’s gory, it’s fun (and often dark), it’s chaotic, it’s unique and it will stay with you long after reading. At the basic level A Hunter Called Night is about just that, a sinister clearly supernatural being called Night and her panter-like Harriers who stalk their quarry, a man called Arron. Knowing Night cannot come into ‘civilised’ areas with her domain being nature Arron seeks refuge in an office building. But Night is not to be deterred creating a blight that slowly turns the building and its occupants in horrible and deadly ways. But Night is unaware that this game of cat and mouse has a new player, a group of survivors from her previous attempt to capture Arron are hunting her down and now the Hunter is the hunted.
I want to start by saying I was immediately biased towards wanting Night and her Harriers to triumph. I blame Waggoner for making her a creature of the wild with Panther like minions. I mean how was I not meant to like her? Even if she does kill and corrupt people and the world around her – everyone has flaws. But I digress. I adored this horror novel which comes with a lot of warnings for gore and violence. I loved the unique characters and the dual time line of flash backs and forwards. It basically ticked a lot of my boxes.
The one thing I have to say, which is a testament to Waggoner’s writing, was I did not like Arron right until the end. This may have been why I wanted Night to win all along as well, but it was probably the Harriers if we are honest. The plot is brilliant in that is brings a sort of organised chaos to the novel. There is a lot happening, it’s wild (literally) and brilliant. And while it is chaotic the world building means it almost just makes sense within the world that has been created.
I particularly loved the twist at the end, again no spoilers, well one of the twists the other not so much. But it was a brilliant conclusion. If you enjoyed We Will Rise or love a good horror story of survival this is one you do not want to miss!
I was given an advanced reader copy by @netgalley and @flametreepress @timwaggoner My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #AHunterCalledNight #TimWaggoner #FlameTreePress #ARCBookReview #Horror #NetGalley #BookReview #gifted
A Hunter Called Night is everything you come to expect from a Tim Waggoner novel. It’s gory, it’s fun (and often dark), it’s chaotic, it’s unique and it will stay with you long after reading. At the basic level A Hunter Called Night is about just that, a sinister clearly supernatural being called Night and her panter-like Harriers who stalk their quarry, a man called Arron. Knowing Night cannot come into ‘civilised’ areas with her domain being nature Arron seeks refuge in an office building. But Night is not to be deterred creating a blight that slowly turns the building and its occupants in horrible and deadly ways. But Night is unaware that this game of cat and mouse has a new player, a group of survivors from her previous attempt to capture Arron are hunting her down and now the Hunter is the hunted.
I want to start by saying I was immediately biased towards wanting Night and her Harriers to triumph. I blame Waggoner for making her a creature of the wild with Panther like minions. I mean how was I not meant to like her? Even if she does kill and corrupt people and the world around her – everyone has flaws. But I digress. I adored this horror novel which comes with a lot of warnings for gore and violence. I loved the unique characters and the dual time line of flash backs and forwards. It basically ticked a lot of my boxes.
The one thing I have to say, which is a testament to Waggoner’s writing, was I did not like Arron right until the end. This may have been why I wanted Night to win all along as well, but it was probably the Harriers if we are honest. The plot is brilliant in that is brings a sort of organised chaos to the novel. There is a lot happening, it’s wild (literally) and brilliant. And while it is chaotic the world building means it almost just makes sense within the world that has been created.
I particularly loved the twist at the end, again no spoilers, well one of the twists the other not so much. But it was a brilliant conclusion. If you enjoyed We Will Rise or love a good horror story of survival this is one you do not want to miss!
March 26, 2023
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
***
The author of this book is what drew me in even though the blurb felt a little awkward.
I was lost almost immediately and had to restart. I'm not sure if it was hard to focus on or if the language itself was keeping me disengaged. However, the second go was helpful and I was able to get through the book.
That being said, I love the premise. It's interesting and there's a solid amount of gore too.
***
The author of this book is what drew me in even though the blurb felt a little awkward.
I was lost almost immediately and had to restart. I'm not sure if it was hard to focus on or if the language itself was keeping me disengaged. However, the second go was helpful and I was able to get through the book.
That being said, I love the premise. It's interesting and there's a solid amount of gore too.
March 4, 2023
Night is an interdimensional being, who has been hunting for Arron for many years, accompanied by her four panther like companions known as Harriers. She eventually finds Arron in a small Ohio town, where he takes refuge in an office building. As Night is a creature of the Wild, she’s unable to enter anywhere that is civilized, but she has the power to inflict a Blight, which slowly transforms civilized areas into the Wild. The workers inside are trapped, and are transformed into either Surrogates who are looking for Arron, or become various monsters whose sole mission is to protect Arron. Add into the mix a group of five individuals, transformed by Arron five years prior to the events of the novel, and who have been hunting for Night and her Harriers in order to,wreak revenge on the deaths of their loved ones.
This plot synopsis unfortunately doesn’t do A Hunter Called.Night any justice. The book is a really well done horror story, combining H. P. Lovecraft tropes with contemporary bloody horror elements. The characters are well developed, and I found myself rooting for them to survive. The ending of the book was a real surprise but completely fit with the narrative. And unlike many contemporary horror novels, the morality of forced transformations is woven into the narrative without interrupting the flow.
Recommended for horror fans.
My thanks to Flame Tree Press and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of the book.
This plot synopsis unfortunately doesn’t do A Hunter Called.Night any justice. The book is a really well done horror story, combining H. P. Lovecraft tropes with contemporary bloody horror elements. The characters are well developed, and I found myself rooting for them to survive. The ending of the book was a real surprise but completely fit with the narrative. And unlike many contemporary horror novels, the morality of forced transformations is woven into the narrative without interrupting the flow.
Recommended for horror fans.
My thanks to Flame Tree Press and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of the book.
May 10, 2023
A Hunter Called Night by Tim Waggoner.
A sinister being called Night and her panther-like Harriers stalk their quarry, a man known only as Arron. Arron seeks refuge within an office building, a place Night cannot go, for it’s part of the civilized world, and she’s a creature of the Wild. To flush Arron out, she creates Blight, a reality-warping field that slowly transforms the building and its occupants in horrible and deadly ways. But unknown to Night, while she waits for the Blight to do its work, a group of survivors from a previous attempt to capture Arron are coming for her. The hunter is now the hunted.
I loved this book. My imagination went wild with this book. I did like blight and night. I loved the names. Different. I will definitely be reading more from this author. 5*.
A sinister being called Night and her panther-like Harriers stalk their quarry, a man known only as Arron. Arron seeks refuge within an office building, a place Night cannot go, for it’s part of the civilized world, and she’s a creature of the Wild. To flush Arron out, she creates Blight, a reality-warping field that slowly transforms the building and its occupants in horrible and deadly ways. But unknown to Night, while she waits for the Blight to do its work, a group of survivors from a previous attempt to capture Arron are coming for her. The hunter is now the hunted.
I loved this book. My imagination went wild with this book. I did like blight and night. I loved the names. Different. I will definitely be reading more from this author. 5*.
May 2, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. It is easily one of the best I’ve read this year. A man is being chased through the woods by a creature called Night and her 4 Harriers. The man makes his escape into an office building, and things begin to get really freaky. Looking for protection, he affects each person he runs into to being his helper and thus they each get really bazaar powers. Night can also call protectors from the building for protection as well. Ah, but this has all happened before, affecting the whole town instead of just a building.
This story has so much more to it than I can describe, and I hate giving away too much in a review. I would highly recommend this book. The author is flawless in the delivery of this story. I look forward to reading more of his work.
This story has so much more to it than I can describe, and I hate giving away too much in a review. I would highly recommend this book. The author is flawless in the delivery of this story. I look forward to reading more of his work.
April 10, 2023
5/5 Stars
TL;DR - If Quentin Tarantino dropped some acid and then got into an Uber with Guillermo del Toro, who just ate a handful of magic mushrooms, and they rode to Studio Ghibli and stumbled into Hayao Miyazaki’s office for a brainstorming session, not even they could come up with anything remotely near this book. Holy shit. An absolute wild ride that I can’t even put into a neat little summary. I completely understand why this author has won so many awards, because this is next-level horror.
A big thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for providing the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
‘A Hunter Called Night’ by Tim Waggoner is a horror story that also encompasses several other genres - sci-fi, a bit of fantasy, existential philosophy, psychological thriller, a bit of comedy here and there. The story is told in two timelines, one taking place in the present in a small Ohio town, and the other takes place five years ago in a small town in Illinois. Though it’s told through the POVs of like 20 people, maybe more, it all centers around a man named Arron, who is being hunted by an otherwordly woman, the titular hunter named Night. Arron, in both timelines, comes into a small town seeking shelter and help from the residents, and things get absolutely WILD from there.
**Trigger warnings for mentions of attempted rape, fatphobia, eating disorders, and extreme gore/violence.**
We’re inside the heads of maybe dozens of characters during this book, and some of them are pretty messed up. I’m going to to cover this ground first as spoiler-free as I can, just so everyone has an idea of some of the potentially triggering things before y’all dive in.
There is an attempted rape around 39% of the way through, and I was really sad to see it because it’s my policy to DNF books for my own safety as soon as an on-page rape occurs, and I was really digging this book and didn’t want to stop. But, spoiler for everyone’s peace of mind, the character doesn’t get raped, she’s okay, and in fact, the would-be rapist gets his spooky horror comeuppance almost immediately, which I’m always here to see. Bullet dodged for me, but please be aware that this all happens while we’re inside the dude’s head and he thinks some really messed up things both before and during the attempt. Please proceed with extreme caution if this is a trigger for you.
One character is incredibly fatphobic, beyond the scope one might expect from a morally-questionable dietician. She thinks some really gross jokes to herself, thinks very demeaning thoughts about the clients she’s supposed to be helping, and in general has very harmful opinions about fat people. That said, this character also deals with body dysmorphia, and potentially anorexia, so please be aware of that before you go in.
Lastly, THIS BOOK IS GORY. Like, insanely gory. Whatever you have in mind, double it, and you might come close. Not just blood, but all kinds of grotesque and horrifying bodily things involved. If you’re squeamish, this is not the book for you. I’m the kind of person who can read violence and blood without blinking, and even I was a little green around the gills from this book. Major body-horror and gratuitous violence going on here.
That out of the way, on with the review.
This book is all over the place, and I mean that as a compliment. We go from deep explorations of characters’ personalities and problems to some X-Files-level sci-fi weirdness, to inter-dimensional beings and their gods, to gory slasher horror, and round and round and round. It’s enthralling, watching how all these people’s lives are cruising along as normal, and then completely turned upside down by Arron and Night’s arrival. It all culminates into a fever-dream, gothic horror thriller that I could not make myself stop reading if I tried. I had to keep going, I had to watch this train crash, I had to know how it would end. And DAMN if the ending isn’t the juiciest twist!
This book has a LOT of POVs, and at first I found it overwhelming, but as I got into the book, I really started to appreciate it. Each character we spend time with is complex and flawed, each struggling with their own issues, and I enjoyed each little slice of life presented. As mentioned above, some of these characters are bad (or at least morally gray) people, but all of them are deeply human in an extremely realistic way, so it was fascinating to see how they each interacted with the absolute batshit insanity erupting around them.
If I had to find fault with this book, the only thing that comes to mind is that sometimes, the descriptions can feel superfluous and boring. We’re told everything every character is wearing, every detail about the surroundings, and it’s a bit much at times. We also get told every little detail about the “main” characters daily routines (except for Arron and Night, of course), and the beginning felt really bogged down by it, at least for me. In hindsight, I can sort of see an argument for contrasting the boring minutia of everyday life for humans and the cosmic-level chaos that descends and messes that up, but for me, it really just dragged for a while. I’m here for spooky, not mundane! However, I'm so glad I stuck it out because it picked up speed and did not slow down until the end.
Final Thoughts:
Did I come into this expecting to love this book as much as I did? No, I really didn’t. I was here for a weird, paranormal romp (and expecting some violence based on brief review perusal) and didn’t really expect to be wowed, but man, I am GLAD at how wrong I was proven. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I will be purchasing a physical copy when its published!
TL;DR - If Quentin Tarantino dropped some acid and then got into an Uber with Guillermo del Toro, who just ate a handful of magic mushrooms, and they rode to Studio Ghibli and stumbled into Hayao Miyazaki’s office for a brainstorming session, not even they could come up with anything remotely near this book. Holy shit. An absolute wild ride that I can’t even put into a neat little summary. I completely understand why this author has won so many awards, because this is next-level horror.
A big thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for providing the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
‘A Hunter Called Night’ by Tim Waggoner is a horror story that also encompasses several other genres - sci-fi, a bit of fantasy, existential philosophy, psychological thriller, a bit of comedy here and there. The story is told in two timelines, one taking place in the present in a small Ohio town, and the other takes place five years ago in a small town in Illinois. Though it’s told through the POVs of like 20 people, maybe more, it all centers around a man named Arron, who is being hunted by an otherwordly woman, the titular hunter named Night. Arron, in both timelines, comes into a small town seeking shelter and help from the residents, and things get absolutely WILD from there.
**Trigger warnings for mentions of attempted rape, fatphobia, eating disorders, and extreme gore/violence.**
We’re inside the heads of maybe dozens of characters during this book, and some of them are pretty messed up. I’m going to to cover this ground first as spoiler-free as I can, just so everyone has an idea of some of the potentially triggering things before y’all dive in.
There is an attempted rape around 39% of the way through, and I was really sad to see it because it’s my policy to DNF books for my own safety as soon as an on-page rape occurs, and I was really digging this book and didn’t want to stop. But, spoiler for everyone’s peace of mind, the character doesn’t get raped, she’s okay, and in fact, the would-be rapist gets his spooky horror comeuppance almost immediately, which I’m always here to see. Bullet dodged for me, but please be aware that this all happens while we’re inside the dude’s head and he thinks some really messed up things both before and during the attempt. Please proceed with extreme caution if this is a trigger for you.
One character is incredibly fatphobic, beyond the scope one might expect from a morally-questionable dietician. She thinks some really gross jokes to herself, thinks very demeaning thoughts about the clients she’s supposed to be helping, and in general has very harmful opinions about fat people. That said, this character also deals with body dysmorphia, and potentially anorexia, so please be aware of that before you go in.
Lastly, THIS BOOK IS GORY. Like, insanely gory. Whatever you have in mind, double it, and you might come close. Not just blood, but all kinds of grotesque and horrifying bodily things involved. If you’re squeamish, this is not the book for you. I’m the kind of person who can read violence and blood without blinking, and even I was a little green around the gills from this book. Major body-horror and gratuitous violence going on here.
That out of the way, on with the review.
This book is all over the place, and I mean that as a compliment. We go from deep explorations of characters’ personalities and problems to some X-Files-level sci-fi weirdness, to inter-dimensional beings and their gods, to gory slasher horror, and round and round and round. It’s enthralling, watching how all these people’s lives are cruising along as normal, and then completely turned upside down by Arron and Night’s arrival. It all culminates into a fever-dream, gothic horror thriller that I could not make myself stop reading if I tried. I had to keep going, I had to watch this train crash, I had to know how it would end. And DAMN if the ending isn’t the juiciest twist!
This book has a LOT of POVs, and at first I found it overwhelming, but as I got into the book, I really started to appreciate it. Each character we spend time with is complex and flawed, each struggling with their own issues, and I enjoyed each little slice of life presented. As mentioned above, some of these characters are bad (or at least morally gray) people, but all of them are deeply human in an extremely realistic way, so it was fascinating to see how they each interacted with the absolute batshit insanity erupting around them.
If I had to find fault with this book, the only thing that comes to mind is that sometimes, the descriptions can feel superfluous and boring. We’re told everything every character is wearing, every detail about the surroundings, and it’s a bit much at times. We also get told every little detail about the “main” characters daily routines (except for Arron and Night, of course), and the beginning felt really bogged down by it, at least for me. In hindsight, I can sort of see an argument for contrasting the boring minutia of everyday life for humans and the cosmic-level chaos that descends and messes that up, but for me, it really just dragged for a while. I’m here for spooky, not mundane! However, I'm so glad I stuck it out because it picked up speed and did not slow down until the end.
Final Thoughts:
Did I come into this expecting to love this book as much as I did? No, I really didn’t. I was here for a weird, paranormal romp (and expecting some violence based on brief review perusal) and didn’t really expect to be wowed, but man, I am GLAD at how wrong I was proven. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I will be purchasing a physical copy when its published!
July 7, 2023
like a low 3. I liked the setting, and the multi-perspective accounts of the same day is a fun framework, however I didn't feel that either was played to its full strengths. The story overall felt a little thin but the end was fun if you don't ask too many questions.
Thanks to netgalley for the arc
Thanks to netgalley for the arc
November 12, 2023
*2.5 stars*. I liked the premise of this horror fantasy but I don’t think the book quite lived up to it. It just wasn’t enough-not enough character development-not enough story. It kind of ended abruptly and I felt like it needed something more to really complete the ending. It was interesting though and definitely kept me reading.
March 22, 2023
Just not enough to keep me around. I was excited about this book for awhile and then my hopes for it ended up not being met in the end.
September 6, 2023
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.0 0f 5
It was nearly ten years ago when I first read a Tim Waggoner novel (Night Terrors) and I was impressed enough with the outrageousness and originality that I’ve been seeking Waggoner’s books ever since. He has really become a major force in the horror fiction world.
In A Hunter Called Night, a man known as Arron is on the run. He is keenly aware that he is likely to die at any moment, but he is unwilling to simply give up. He is running from the Hunter known as ‘Night’ and he has been running from her for many years now when he reaches the relative safety of a building in which Night cannot enter.
To ferret Arron out, Night creates Blight which slowly transforms the building where Arron is hiding, and all of the people inside of it, into something disturbing and otherworldly. Will Arron leave the relative security of the building, slowly transforming and its unknown dangers to face the known hunter, Night and her feline beasts, ‘harriers’?
Arron has been chased before and there have always been casualties in the hunt, but now, some of the survivors of previous hunts have banded together and are doing some hunting themselves … hunting the hunter, Night.
Waggoner isn’t shy in his horror writing. This will be dark, grotesque, and full of keenly described bodily horrors. If you don’t respond well to a high ‘ick’ factor, this isn’t for you. But unlike the splatter-punk genre of horror, Waggoner uses his descriptions to really provide the full horror of a situation, not to just try to gross the reader out with gore.
I did find the creativity of the concept to be highly engaging and the writing is smooth and enchanting. It’s almost as though Waggoner is the Hunter, lulling the reader in.
There were moments of cloudiness when I didn’t quite follow what was happening. Sometimes this added a level of unease but sometimes it just made me confused.
I don’t think I could read only Waggoner – it’s just a bit too intense – but when I’m in the mood for a good, solid, horror story, Tim Waggoner is definitely a go-to author.
Looking for a good book? A Hunter Called Night by Tim Waggoner is a powerful, sometimes gross, easy to read novel that ratchets up the horror to intense levels.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
It was nearly ten years ago when I first read a Tim Waggoner novel (Night Terrors) and I was impressed enough with the outrageousness and originality that I’ve been seeking Waggoner’s books ever since. He has really become a major force in the horror fiction world.
In A Hunter Called Night, a man known as Arron is on the run. He is keenly aware that he is likely to die at any moment, but he is unwilling to simply give up. He is running from the Hunter known as ‘Night’ and he has been running from her for many years now when he reaches the relative safety of a building in which Night cannot enter.
To ferret Arron out, Night creates Blight which slowly transforms the building where Arron is hiding, and all of the people inside of it, into something disturbing and otherworldly. Will Arron leave the relative security of the building, slowly transforming and its unknown dangers to face the known hunter, Night and her feline beasts, ‘harriers’?
Arron has been chased before and there have always been casualties in the hunt, but now, some of the survivors of previous hunts have banded together and are doing some hunting themselves … hunting the hunter, Night.
Waggoner isn’t shy in his horror writing. This will be dark, grotesque, and full of keenly described bodily horrors. If you don’t respond well to a high ‘ick’ factor, this isn’t for you. But unlike the splatter-punk genre of horror, Waggoner uses his descriptions to really provide the full horror of a situation, not to just try to gross the reader out with gore.
I did find the creativity of the concept to be highly engaging and the writing is smooth and enchanting. It’s almost as though Waggoner is the Hunter, lulling the reader in.
There were moments of cloudiness when I didn’t quite follow what was happening. Sometimes this added a level of unease but sometimes it just made me confused.
I don’t think I could read only Waggoner – it’s just a bit too intense – but when I’m in the mood for a good, solid, horror story, Tim Waggoner is definitely a go-to author.
Looking for a good book? A Hunter Called Night by Tim Waggoner is a powerful, sometimes gross, easy to read novel that ratchets up the horror to intense levels.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2023
A bearded man runs out of the forest and across a parking lot. A moment later, four black panthers and a blonde woman follow him across the asphalt. They are hot in pursuit, but although he runs they do not. They walk slowly, leaning against some unseen force. The bearded man makes it into the office building. The woman lowers her hand to the asphalt, and cracks begin to form. A slow rot creeps along the cars, moss and mold and the stench of the Wild. The Blight has been cast. The game is on.
Tim Waggoner's "A Hunter Called Night" is a riveting book. Fast-paced and action-packed, it holds the reader at the edge of their seat until the game is through. Each chapter focuses upon a different person affected by the hunt, so the true crux of the story is unveiled in small pieces that will keep the reader guessing. I found myself engrossed with it from start to finish, cheering for my favorites and loving each second as the characters asked the questions on my own mind from the start.
The tension between the Wild and the civilized is often a well-worn trope, but it is done well in Waggoner's story. The logic of the rules is attractive, and the characters all felt unique, fully-formed, and believable. The world he created, close to our own but infused with a bizarre mythology that tantalizes with how close it is to being a logical extension of our own beliefs, was likewise easy to sink into and believe.
I was reluctant to leave this book behind once I finished it, but incredibly happy there are so many more things by Waggoner that I could pick up next.
Tim Waggoner's "A Hunter Called Night" is a riveting book. Fast-paced and action-packed, it holds the reader at the edge of their seat until the game is through. Each chapter focuses upon a different person affected by the hunt, so the true crux of the story is unveiled in small pieces that will keep the reader guessing. I found myself engrossed with it from start to finish, cheering for my favorites and loving each second as the characters asked the questions on my own mind from the start.
The tension between the Wild and the civilized is often a well-worn trope, but it is done well in Waggoner's story. The logic of the rules is attractive, and the characters all felt unique, fully-formed, and believable. The world he created, close to our own but infused with a bizarre mythology that tantalizes with how close it is to being a logical extension of our own beliefs, was likewise easy to sink into and believe.
I was reluctant to leave this book behind once I finished it, but incredibly happy there are so many more things by Waggoner that I could pick up next.
August 18, 2023
Im giving this book a solid 5 stars. There's a specific reason why I give 5, but do not read beyond the lines if you don't want to be spoiled. My non-spoiler review is thus - it's got a fast pace, switching from perspective to perspective, from past to present, constantly keeping your attention and you always want to know what happens next! Im afraid I cannot say more for fear of spoiling the story:
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Fans of Waggoner will recognize the connection to another one of his books and that this story concerns one of the worlds in the Omniverse. I had a strong suspicion when I first started reading this, the general weirdness, the strange characters, one fleeing, one pursuing...etc. And I had a VERY strong suspicion - and I was GREATLY PLEASED when that connection was revealed!
For those of you who know what I'm talking about, I do certainly hope he continues to write more regarding the 'Omniverse' present, quite fascinating!
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Fans of Waggoner will recognize the connection to another one of his books and that this story concerns one of the worlds in the Omniverse. I had a strong suspicion when I first started reading this, the general weirdness, the strange characters, one fleeing, one pursuing...etc. And I had a VERY strong suspicion - and I was GREATLY PLEASED when that connection was revealed!
For those of you who know what I'm talking about, I do certainly hope he continues to write more regarding the 'Omniverse' present, quite fascinating!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2024
Received as an ARC from Netgalley:
The cover of this book undersells how utterly unhinged this book is. I was under the impression that this was an animal attack book and while it is in a way...it's also so so so much more.
A book featuring werewolves, giant magic panthers, ladies with scissors for hands, a vampire with needles for fingers, bird people, and SO MUCH MORE. When the carnage begins this book really just doesn't stop.
There are some nastier elements to the story (fatphobia) but those elements are actually expanded upon in a way that makes it more than just being like a Stephen King throwaway insult. Still be aware about things like body dysmorphia and eating disorders.
This is the rare book that I just couldn't put down, and needed to know how the gore filled insanity would end.
The cover of this book undersells how utterly unhinged this book is. I was under the impression that this was an animal attack book and while it is in a way...it's also so so so much more.
A book featuring werewolves, giant magic panthers, ladies with scissors for hands, a vampire with needles for fingers, bird people, and SO MUCH MORE. When the carnage begins this book really just doesn't stop.
There are some nastier elements to the story (fatphobia) but those elements are actually expanded upon in a way that makes it more than just being like a Stephen King throwaway insult. Still be aware about things like body dysmorphia and eating disorders.
This is the rare book that I just couldn't put down, and needed to know how the gore filled insanity would end.
April 19, 2023
I really enjoyed this story by Tim Waggoner. It gets off to an immediate, exciting start, with someone being hunted by Night and it immedately throws you into this strange world, with certain rules to it, that make you sit up and take notice. The characterisation is on point and the story moves along at quite a pace!
Tim Waggoner is a writer at the height of his powers with this one. Having read his Writing in the Dark blog posts and his Writitng in the Dark book, I know how much work Tim puts into constructing a story and thinking about character, pace, plot and atmosphere.
A Hunter Called Night is an excellent horror thriller and I hope it does really well.
Tim Waggoner is a writer at the height of his powers with this one. Having read his Writing in the Dark blog posts and his Writitng in the Dark book, I know how much work Tim puts into constructing a story and thinking about character, pace, plot and atmosphere.
A Hunter Called Night is an excellent horror thriller and I hope it does really well.
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