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Buzzard's Edge Saga #3
Where the Daybreak Ends: Stories from Buzzard's Edge
Alone in the desert and covered in blood, Josiah Dennis comes across an abandoned town, and two unlikely storytellers burdened with sharing its history—past, present, and future.
Rogue gangs of vampires, young witches, flayed cadavers, giant lizards, and men with dark hearts dwell in these pages, looming over Buzzard’s Edge, a town full of people struggling to survive in an unforgiving Arizona frontier.
Rogue gangs of vampires, young witches, flayed cadavers, giant lizards, and men with dark hearts dwell in these pages, looming over Buzzard’s Edge, a town full of people struggling to survive in an unforgiving Arizona frontier.
- GenresHorror
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2024
2 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Brennan LaFaro
27 books158 followers Brennan LaFaro is a music teacher by day, horror writer by night, living in southeastern Massachusetts with his wife, two sons, and his hounds. He is the author of the Slattery Falls trilogy, as well as Last Stay, and the horror western, Buzzard's Edge Saga. You can read his short fiction in various anthologies and find him on Twitter at @brennanlafaro or at www.brennanlafaro.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 18, 2024
I'm intrigued by Western horror but have yet to find one that I like. This one blew me away. I haven't read any of the book series this derived from (though I'll definitely be checking it out) and still enjoyed every story in this collection.
These short tales are well written with great characters and excellent atmosphere. Monsters of all kinds and the bloody hatchet of Josiah Dennis.
These short tales are well written with great characters and excellent atmosphere. Monsters of all kinds and the bloody hatchet of Josiah Dennis.
September 16, 2024
First came The Demon Of Devil's Canyon. Then, Noose. And, with this third book, Brennan LaFaro has cemented himself in the western horror genre.
These terrifying stories from Buzzard's Edge link characters from his previous books and expands this fantastic world he's created. It's filled with horrific creatures, bad man, even badder women at times, and all the wild west vibes you could want.
In this book, a man named Josiah is wandering the desert, hatchet in hand, and dying of hunger and thirst. He comes upon a small oasis and is met with a talking coyote and vulture.
These creatures have stories to tell about a town called Buzzard's Edge. A town which materialises from the sand as they speak. And in these stories, unimaginable terrors await. Vampires, monsterous man eating cave monsters, murderers, serial killers, and more.
But Josiah has secrets of his own. When these things come to light, he realizes he's been chosen for something sinister.
This is just a great western horror books. The series as a whole needs to be read by more people in my opinion. I think it's absolutely brilliant. It combines the wild west with not only terrifying situations but with heart as well. Rory and Alice are two of my favorite characters in this genre and I hope we'll hear more from them in the future. I highly recommend this and the rest of the series.
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
These terrifying stories from Buzzard's Edge link characters from his previous books and expands this fantastic world he's created. It's filled with horrific creatures, bad man, even badder women at times, and all the wild west vibes you could want.
In this book, a man named Josiah is wandering the desert, hatchet in hand, and dying of hunger and thirst. He comes upon a small oasis and is met with a talking coyote and vulture.
These creatures have stories to tell about a town called Buzzard's Edge. A town which materialises from the sand as they speak. And in these stories, unimaginable terrors await. Vampires, monsterous man eating cave monsters, murderers, serial killers, and more.
But Josiah has secrets of his own. When these things come to light, he realizes he's been chosen for something sinister.
This is just a great western horror books. The series as a whole needs to be read by more people in my opinion. I think it's absolutely brilliant. It combines the wild west with not only terrifying situations but with heart as well. Rory and Alice are two of my favorite characters in this genre and I hope we'll hear more from them in the future. I highly recommend this and the rest of the series.
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
November 27, 2024
Brennan LaFaro's short story collection, "Where the Daybreak Ends," gathers ten stories taking place in the same universe with his two Western horror novels, "Noose" and "The Demon of Devil's Cavern," the horror westerns that make up the Buzzard's Edge Saga. The official number of the tales in the book is actually eight (seven shorts and one novella), but there's also a wrap-around story, "The Reaping," presented in nine short parts, plus a tiny short, "Spokes in a Wheel," served as a bonus story, a 'Lagniappe' of sorts according to the author.
Anyone who's read the Buzzard's Edge Saga books, is in for a real treat with this collection: each story references or involves, implicitly or explicitly, characters, places and events from the other books, though without ever neglecting the first-time reader who picks the collection. This means that almost all the stories can be read on their own, as excellent western horror tales sharing a common background. But the order of reading does matter, so readers should heed LaFaro's advice and read each story as intended. This goes double for the wrap-around story, "The Reaping," since it will hardly make sense otherwise. Same with the last two stories - they are preparing the ground for the third Buzzard Edge's book!
OK, let's put such technicalities aside, and take a peak at the stories themselves. I'll be upfront about it, and immediately confess that I liked the collection far more than the novels themselves! The stories provide so much richness and background detail on Buzzard's Edge, they develop what happened in the novels and after them, it was impossible to read just one story at a time; I did enjoy the books, in fact I enjoyed them tremendously, but going through these stories was a truly fascinating reading experience, almost like completing a giant puzzle. Piece by piece, Buzzard's Edge begins to take shape as it gets populated by both familiar and new characters placed in unexpected situations, their stories full of action and intrigue.
"They Only Come Out at Night," for example, has two new characters with their own attractive dynamic, facing vampires; "Salvia Sunset," introduces another new character, Nola (guess who inspired that name!), this time facing on her own a giant flesh-eating monster; "Come and Take My Hand" (a tale first printed in the paperback of "Noose"), provides a sort of origin story for two already introduced characters (and is a truly heart-breaking story if you know what's waiting for them in the future); "The Ice Man," a novella-length story, revisits Rory and Alice, revealing what happened to them between the two books; and, finally, the titular "Where the Daybreak Ends" gives a glimpse into the story of a familiar gay couple - and casually drops a recognizable name from LaFaro's other fictional universe! I never expected to stumble upon such a link! And the tiny story of "Spokes in a Wheel" is the perfect post-credit scene we're all waiting for after the story ends: an extremely satisfying teaser for the forthcoming third book.
So the Buzzard's Edge collection is all entertainment, no misses. LaFaro's storytelling rocks, and when it comes to western horror, you're in the best of hands!
Anyone who's read the Buzzard's Edge Saga books, is in for a real treat with this collection: each story references or involves, implicitly or explicitly, characters, places and events from the other books, though without ever neglecting the first-time reader who picks the collection. This means that almost all the stories can be read on their own, as excellent western horror tales sharing a common background. But the order of reading does matter, so readers should heed LaFaro's advice and read each story as intended. This goes double for the wrap-around story, "The Reaping," since it will hardly make sense otherwise. Same with the last two stories - they are preparing the ground for the third Buzzard Edge's book!
OK, let's put such technicalities aside, and take a peak at the stories themselves. I'll be upfront about it, and immediately confess that I liked the collection far more than the novels themselves! The stories provide so much richness and background detail on Buzzard's Edge, they develop what happened in the novels and after them, it was impossible to read just one story at a time; I did enjoy the books, in fact I enjoyed them tremendously, but going through these stories was a truly fascinating reading experience, almost like completing a giant puzzle. Piece by piece, Buzzard's Edge begins to take shape as it gets populated by both familiar and new characters placed in unexpected situations, their stories full of action and intrigue.
"They Only Come Out at Night," for example, has two new characters with their own attractive dynamic, facing vampires; "Salvia Sunset," introduces another new character, Nola (guess who inspired that name!), this time facing on her own a giant flesh-eating monster; "Come and Take My Hand" (a tale first printed in the paperback of "Noose"), provides a sort of origin story for two already introduced characters (and is a truly heart-breaking story if you know what's waiting for them in the future); "The Ice Man," a novella-length story, revisits Rory and Alice, revealing what happened to them between the two books; and, finally, the titular "Where the Daybreak Ends" gives a glimpse into the story of a familiar gay couple - and casually drops a recognizable name from LaFaro's other fictional universe! I never expected to stumble upon such a link! And the tiny story of "Spokes in a Wheel" is the perfect post-credit scene we're all waiting for after the story ends: an extremely satisfying teaser for the forthcoming third book.
So the Buzzard's Edge collection is all entertainment, no misses. LaFaro's storytelling rocks, and when it comes to western horror, you're in the best of hands!
October 22, 2024
This is a smart, fun addition to the Buzzard’s Edge saga! The whole idea behind the project is fun, from the wrap-around to the short stories that expand the history and lore and population of Buzzard’s Edge. I enjoyed every single story, and especially appreciated that they played with different types of horror and action—it didn’t feel like a simple rinse and repeat across the stories. I think the writing was really strong here, and sometimes showing just a hint of a literary flourish that really made everything feel like a cohesive project.
This is more of an oral history of the town than anything else. In any given story it is hard to say there is great world-building, since the audience will have likely already read the first two books and, even if not, each story is homing in on a specific moment in time. The world-building is done across the stories, where the characters and the blood they shed are the building blocks for what this town is and will become. Considering the format, all short fiction, I thought the characters were fleshed out and fun. The western genre, even horror-westerns and weird-westerns, have a somewhat expected cast of characters, so a lot of the work is done for you. Yet each character gets enough shine to them that they feel like more than just a body to fill space. Many of the characters we have already met before, and those characters get fun little additions to their stories, different facets to their personalities or histories that make them more compelling and rounded.
As I mentioned, every story was fun. To be honest, for almost every story I wouldn’t have minded an extra thousand words or so, and that could have been used to add a little more character and scene building. Considering the first two novellas there could have been a little more splatter and I wouldn’t have minded that, either—these stories felt a little tame by comparison (the stories have allusions to greater horrors than we necessarily see on the page, sometimes). These are nitpicking complaints, though, because I enjoyed myself throughout this collection. It feels like LaFaro is just getting more and more confident about this world as he keeps adding to it, and I am excited to see what the next book brings.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Brigids Gate Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is more of an oral history of the town than anything else. In any given story it is hard to say there is great world-building, since the audience will have likely already read the first two books and, even if not, each story is homing in on a specific moment in time. The world-building is done across the stories, where the characters and the blood they shed are the building blocks for what this town is and will become. Considering the format, all short fiction, I thought the characters were fleshed out and fun. The western genre, even horror-westerns and weird-westerns, have a somewhat expected cast of characters, so a lot of the work is done for you. Yet each character gets enough shine to them that they feel like more than just a body to fill space. Many of the characters we have already met before, and those characters get fun little additions to their stories, different facets to their personalities or histories that make them more compelling and rounded.
As I mentioned, every story was fun. To be honest, for almost every story I wouldn’t have minded an extra thousand words or so, and that could have been used to add a little more character and scene building. Considering the first two novellas there could have been a little more splatter and I wouldn’t have minded that, either—these stories felt a little tame by comparison (the stories have allusions to greater horrors than we necessarily see on the page, sometimes). These are nitpicking complaints, though, because I enjoyed myself throughout this collection. It feels like LaFaro is just getting more and more confident about this world as he keeps adding to it, and I am excited to see what the next book brings.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Brigids Gate Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 18, 2024
I received this as an ARC on NetGalley from the publisher.
This is how a short story collection should be done. Every story stands on its own and is interesting. All of the stories are different and dynamic enough that you don't feel like ideas are being rehashed. You could absolutely jump around to the stories that look most interesting to you, but there is a central thread that pulls it all together. For that reason, you should read this one front to back. If you have read Noose and The Demon of Devil's Cavern, there are some treats in here for you. Specifically, I was saddened by the background of the couple who built the cabin in The Demon of Devil's Cavern. I was also shocked to find out the background of Thad Locke. I can't give a greater compliment than to say this collection feels like being told the oral history of Buzzard's Edge while eating canned beans around a campfire in the middle of a desert.
This is how a short story collection should be done. Every story stands on its own and is interesting. All of the stories are different and dynamic enough that you don't feel like ideas are being rehashed. You could absolutely jump around to the stories that look most interesting to you, but there is a central thread that pulls it all together. For that reason, you should read this one front to back. If you have read Noose and The Demon of Devil's Cavern, there are some treats in here for you. Specifically, I was saddened by the background of the couple who built the cabin in The Demon of Devil's Cavern. I was also shocked to find out the background of Thad Locke. I can't give a greater compliment than to say this collection feels like being told the oral history of Buzzard's Edge while eating canned beans around a campfire in the middle of a desert.
December 14, 2024
9 stories meaner and more venomous than the nastiest Mojave green.
March 28, 2025
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Where The Daybreak Ends' by Brennan LaFaro.
OMG!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS BOOK, AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, GRIPPING AND PAGE TURNING EXPLOSIVE MUST READ!!
This book is the third book in Brennan's 'Buzzard's Edge Saga'. At the start of the book it does suggest you read Noose (book 1) and 'The Demon Of Devil's Cavern' before this book but I didn't and did not have any problems. I will most definitely be going back to read them more as I absolutely loved exploring the horrific Buzzard's Edge and am looking forward to reading more stories from there and meeting more characters!!
'Where The Daybreak Ends' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this p out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. These stories discuss/include child murder, murder of a spouse, animal attack, ableism, child abuse, domestic abuse, implied sexual abuse, sexual assault, extreme violence, homophobia, religious zealotry, death by flaying, suicide and sex work. I have written which stories contain these contents so you can decide which to avoid if necessary. All stories contain elements of profanity, violence, murder and gore.
This book is very well written with vivid descriptions that absolutely grip the readers attention and puts them right in the middle of it all making your heart pound and you constantly second guessing.
An addictive and horrific collection of 19 short stories filled with blood, gore, western society, karma, twists, horror and absolutely everything you could ask for in a gripping page turner. 9 of these short stories are one that has been split into 9 parts and I will review it as one. As I always do with books of short stories or poems I will rate them individually and then give an overall rating at the end. Although these stories all have a western theme, if you are not a fan of westerns please do not let that put you off. I am not a fan of westerns at all and never have been but I absolutely love horror and I am so glad I picked this book up as it is ram packed with it!! These are the stories that are included in order, a short description of what they are about and my rating:
Pick A Card: This story is an introduction to 'Where The Daybreak Ends'. It is written by Tyler Jones who used to play guitar in a rock 'n' roll band many years ago. During this time they played in a club with another band where the bass player "Paul" was also a magician. Our protagonist asks him to show them his best trick but he is told to wait until the last night of the tour as after they wouldn't want to be around Paul anymore. "Paul" did his trick and was right in his statement that many could not get their head around what he did or how. Tyler then goes on to discuss magic and explain about what to expect in these stories.
The Reaping (Parts 1-9): This short story contains/discusses child murder, murder of a spouse and an animal attack. This story is the main story with all the others being told within this story. I love it when books do that as it is as if you have a bonus with several stories instead of one!! In this main story we meet Josiah who is struggling in the desert sun and struggling with no food or water. He finally comes across water and this is where he comes into contact with a coyote and a vulture. The vulture has been following for a while but only comes down when Josiah reaches the water. the vulture and coyote speak to Josiah and they then lead him on a journey telling him the stories of Buzzard's Edge. Throughout the parts we learn more about what Josiah thinks of the stories as well as more about how he came to be in the desert. This is one of the longest ones as it is dispersed throughout and is also one of my favourites so definitely gets a 5/5!!
They Only Come Out At Night: This short story contains/discusses ableism. In this short story we meet Ned Callaghan who is building a school for Buzzard's Edge, Violet Conway who will be the teacher in the same school and Jim Taggert. Ned and Violet start hearing voices telling them to "Rest" and/or "Come". When out working on the school Ned notices some figures standing on town line. The first time he sees them there are only 3 and they have come when the sun is setting. The next day Ned is working on the school again and Violet joins them. When it starts getting dark the figures appear again but this time there are 7. This continues with more figures appearing until Violet has enough and tells them to make up their mind and either leave or come in. A vampiric tale which wans you to be careful of what you invite in!! 4/5
Come And Take My Hand: This short story discusses/includes child abuse, domestic abuse and implied sexual abuse. This is one of the saddest stories. Young George Holcomb struggles to sleep at night because he keeps seeing something at his window. his Mum Janie tries to comfort him but his Father is violent and disciplines him for "being a cry baby" and running to his mum about it. George ends up making friends with the girl at the window who is called Merella and she helps him to escape in more ways than one. Although it is sad and horrific what his father does this is still one of my favourites. 5/5
Holes: This short story includes/discusses sexual assault, consensual sex and extreme violence. In this story we meet sheriff Elijah "Hellfire" Sparrow who has never heard of second chances and prefers to rid Buzzards Edge of criminals in his own revengeful way. However when small holes start appearing around his home and he hears scratches from under his floorboards he is not the only one out for revenge. 5/5
Where The Daybreak Ends: This short story includes/discusses homophobia and religious zealotry. In this story we meet Wes Bradley who has been put in prison by Billy Chambers for kidnapping. Wes is adamant he is innocent and tells Billy the story of how Andrew and himself were in love but had to leave Buzzards Edge due to the attitude to 2 men being in love plus Andrew's father would and did not take kindly to it. On their journey Wes starts seeing green eyes watching them which later turn up to be something a lot bigger, monstrous and out for blood. 4/5
Trade Secrets: This short story includes/discusses death by flaying. In this story we meet Thaddeus Locke who is travelling on a train when it is stopped due to a body being discovered. Thaddeus is a full time educator and part time consulting detective and Harden invites him off the train to help with the investigation. I wont say anymore about this one but I absolutely loved the twist and it is definitely another one of my favourites!!! 5/5
Salvia Sunset: Leanora Betts, known to everyone as Nola, runs a tailor shop in Buzzards Edge when one day she sees something monstrous outside her shop. She stays in for the night and the next day one of the miners Pete come in to her shop. She discovers that the miners have opened a new cavern and not long after some of the miners go missing. When Pete fails to return to her shop to collect his clothes she is determined to find out more. I absolutely love the fact that this story includes a kick butt woman who stood up to a greedy man. Another of my favourites!! 5/5
The Ice Man: This short story includes/discusses suicide. In this story we meet Rory and Alice who visit Ruby's shop. Ruby gifts a book about signing to Violet as she does not speak. Ruby is found hacked up with the words Ice Man scrawled into the wood in her shop by her own fingernails. Rory and Alice are determined to find out who killed Ruby and why. I absolutely LOVE the fact that this story included sign language. I did some sign language courses a few years ago and I enjoyed the reminders of some of them, especially as the author very clearly described some of the ones Violet was doing. 5/5
When It's All Said And Done: This short story includes/discusses sex work. Jack and Mort have been send on a mission to collect an item from Meyer's shop by Alexander Farrell. Alexander is somebody that you do not say no to and I actually felt sorry for Mort and Jack who didn't seem to be bad people just people caught up in bad things. 4/5
Spokes In A Wheel: This story is actually a lagniappe (freebie) which leads from the previous story but from Alexander's perspective as well as from Moses, the Mayors, who was also Jack's brother. 3/5
An absolutely fantastic collection of magical, disturbing, westernised, suspenseful and tension packed horrific short stories!!! A fantastic collection of short stories with an excellent range of situations, characters and narratives. My favourite ones had to be 'The Reaping', 'Come And Take My Hand' and ' Salvia Sunset'. These stories include suspense, horror, tension, murder, fantasy, the supernatural and much more! There is a great mix of stories so there is definitely something in there for everyone. I absolutely love the fact that these stories all take place in Buzzard's Edge and I am so pleased that I can return there and discover more stories from there in Brennan's other books 'Noose' and 'Demon Of Devil's Cavern' plus other previous and future books. I would highly recommend reading this book from start to finish rather than at random stories though. I was planning on reading 'The Reaping' all in one (as it is in separate parts) but realised quickly that it needed to be read in order. The cover is absolutely amazing and it was one of the things that drew me to the book. This book is ideal to be able to pick up and read a story during a break or while making a cuppa!! I would probably avoid reading them as a bedtime story though!!! I am a huge fan of horror stories and the gorier the better for me!!! The excellent descriptions throughout ensures you feel the hair raising on your arms and the chill on your skin!!! The fact that these are short stories also allows you to pick it up and read a story at a time or read it in one sitting which is perfect for those who like to read multiple books at one time. Brennan has excellent writing skills and and I look forward to reading more of his work!
Grab your copy of 'Where The Daybreak Ends' and discover which stories you love!!!
Overall a brilliant selection of creepy, horror and suspense filled stories with something for everyone!!
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Review for 'Where The Daybreak Ends' by Brennan LaFaro.
OMG!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS BOOK, AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, GRIPPING AND PAGE TURNING EXPLOSIVE MUST READ!!
This book is the third book in Brennan's 'Buzzard's Edge Saga'. At the start of the book it does suggest you read Noose (book 1) and 'The Demon Of Devil's Cavern' before this book but I didn't and did not have any problems. I will most definitely be going back to read them more as I absolutely loved exploring the horrific Buzzard's Edge and am looking forward to reading more stories from there and meeting more characters!!
'Where The Daybreak Ends' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this p out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. These stories discuss/include child murder, murder of a spouse, animal attack, ableism, child abuse, domestic abuse, implied sexual abuse, sexual assault, extreme violence, homophobia, religious zealotry, death by flaying, suicide and sex work. I have written which stories contain these contents so you can decide which to avoid if necessary. All stories contain elements of profanity, violence, murder and gore.
This book is very well written with vivid descriptions that absolutely grip the readers attention and puts them right in the middle of it all making your heart pound and you constantly second guessing.
An addictive and horrific collection of 19 short stories filled with blood, gore, western society, karma, twists, horror and absolutely everything you could ask for in a gripping page turner. 9 of these short stories are one that has been split into 9 parts and I will review it as one. As I always do with books of short stories or poems I will rate them individually and then give an overall rating at the end. Although these stories all have a western theme, if you are not a fan of westerns please do not let that put you off. I am not a fan of westerns at all and never have been but I absolutely love horror and I am so glad I picked this book up as it is ram packed with it!! These are the stories that are included in order, a short description of what they are about and my rating:
Pick A Card: This story is an introduction to 'Where The Daybreak Ends'. It is written by Tyler Jones who used to play guitar in a rock 'n' roll band many years ago. During this time they played in a club with another band where the bass player "Paul" was also a magician. Our protagonist asks him to show them his best trick but he is told to wait until the last night of the tour as after they wouldn't want to be around Paul anymore. "Paul" did his trick and was right in his statement that many could not get their head around what he did or how. Tyler then goes on to discuss magic and explain about what to expect in these stories.
The Reaping (Parts 1-9): This short story contains/discusses child murder, murder of a spouse and an animal attack. This story is the main story with all the others being told within this story. I love it when books do that as it is as if you have a bonus with several stories instead of one!! In this main story we meet Josiah who is struggling in the desert sun and struggling with no food or water. He finally comes across water and this is where he comes into contact with a coyote and a vulture. The vulture has been following for a while but only comes down when Josiah reaches the water. the vulture and coyote speak to Josiah and they then lead him on a journey telling him the stories of Buzzard's Edge. Throughout the parts we learn more about what Josiah thinks of the stories as well as more about how he came to be in the desert. This is one of the longest ones as it is dispersed throughout and is also one of my favourites so definitely gets a 5/5!!
They Only Come Out At Night: This short story contains/discusses ableism. In this short story we meet Ned Callaghan who is building a school for Buzzard's Edge, Violet Conway who will be the teacher in the same school and Jim Taggert. Ned and Violet start hearing voices telling them to "Rest" and/or "Come". When out working on the school Ned notices some figures standing on town line. The first time he sees them there are only 3 and they have come when the sun is setting. The next day Ned is working on the school again and Violet joins them. When it starts getting dark the figures appear again but this time there are 7. This continues with more figures appearing until Violet has enough and tells them to make up their mind and either leave or come in. A vampiric tale which wans you to be careful of what you invite in!! 4/5
Come And Take My Hand: This short story discusses/includes child abuse, domestic abuse and implied sexual abuse. This is one of the saddest stories. Young George Holcomb struggles to sleep at night because he keeps seeing something at his window. his Mum Janie tries to comfort him but his Father is violent and disciplines him for "being a cry baby" and running to his mum about it. George ends up making friends with the girl at the window who is called Merella and she helps him to escape in more ways than one. Although it is sad and horrific what his father does this is still one of my favourites. 5/5
Holes: This short story includes/discusses sexual assault, consensual sex and extreme violence. In this story we meet sheriff Elijah "Hellfire" Sparrow who has never heard of second chances and prefers to rid Buzzards Edge of criminals in his own revengeful way. However when small holes start appearing around his home and he hears scratches from under his floorboards he is not the only one out for revenge. 5/5
Where The Daybreak Ends: This short story includes/discusses homophobia and religious zealotry. In this story we meet Wes Bradley who has been put in prison by Billy Chambers for kidnapping. Wes is adamant he is innocent and tells Billy the story of how Andrew and himself were in love but had to leave Buzzards Edge due to the attitude to 2 men being in love plus Andrew's father would and did not take kindly to it. On their journey Wes starts seeing green eyes watching them which later turn up to be something a lot bigger, monstrous and out for blood. 4/5
Trade Secrets: This short story includes/discusses death by flaying. In this story we meet Thaddeus Locke who is travelling on a train when it is stopped due to a body being discovered. Thaddeus is a full time educator and part time consulting detective and Harden invites him off the train to help with the investigation. I wont say anymore about this one but I absolutely loved the twist and it is definitely another one of my favourites!!! 5/5
Salvia Sunset: Leanora Betts, known to everyone as Nola, runs a tailor shop in Buzzards Edge when one day she sees something monstrous outside her shop. She stays in for the night and the next day one of the miners Pete come in to her shop. She discovers that the miners have opened a new cavern and not long after some of the miners go missing. When Pete fails to return to her shop to collect his clothes she is determined to find out more. I absolutely love the fact that this story includes a kick butt woman who stood up to a greedy man. Another of my favourites!! 5/5
The Ice Man: This short story includes/discusses suicide. In this story we meet Rory and Alice who visit Ruby's shop. Ruby gifts a book about signing to Violet as she does not speak. Ruby is found hacked up with the words Ice Man scrawled into the wood in her shop by her own fingernails. Rory and Alice are determined to find out who killed Ruby and why. I absolutely LOVE the fact that this story included sign language. I did some sign language courses a few years ago and I enjoyed the reminders of some of them, especially as the author very clearly described some of the ones Violet was doing. 5/5
When It's All Said And Done: This short story includes/discusses sex work. Jack and Mort have been send on a mission to collect an item from Meyer's shop by Alexander Farrell. Alexander is somebody that you do not say no to and I actually felt sorry for Mort and Jack who didn't seem to be bad people just people caught up in bad things. 4/5
Spokes In A Wheel: This story is actually a lagniappe (freebie) which leads from the previous story but from Alexander's perspective as well as from Moses, the Mayors, who was also Jack's brother. 3/5
An absolutely fantastic collection of magical, disturbing, westernised, suspenseful and tension packed horrific short stories!!! A fantastic collection of short stories with an excellent range of situations, characters and narratives. My favourite ones had to be 'The Reaping', 'Come And Take My Hand' and ' Salvia Sunset'. These stories include suspense, horror, tension, murder, fantasy, the supernatural and much more! There is a great mix of stories so there is definitely something in there for everyone. I absolutely love the fact that these stories all take place in Buzzard's Edge and I am so pleased that I can return there and discover more stories from there in Brennan's other books 'Noose' and 'Demon Of Devil's Cavern' plus other previous and future books. I would highly recommend reading this book from start to finish rather than at random stories though. I was planning on reading 'The Reaping' all in one (as it is in separate parts) but realised quickly that it needed to be read in order. The cover is absolutely amazing and it was one of the things that drew me to the book. This book is ideal to be able to pick up and read a story during a break or while making a cuppa!! I would probably avoid reading them as a bedtime story though!!! I am a huge fan of horror stories and the gorier the better for me!!! The excellent descriptions throughout ensures you feel the hair raising on your arms and the chill on your skin!!! The fact that these are short stories also allows you to pick it up and read a story at a time or read it in one sitting which is perfect for those who like to read multiple books at one time. Brennan has excellent writing skills and and I look forward to reading more of his work!
Grab your copy of 'Where The Daybreak Ends' and discover which stories you love!!!
Overall a brilliant selection of creepy, horror and suspense filled stories with something for everyone!!
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January 17, 2025
I need to preface this review by saying I have never read a Western before and I have not read anything in this series before. Regardless, I never felt like I had to know the previous books to enjoy these stories (though I am sure it would have greatly helped). And this definitely made me want to read the other Buzzard’s Edge books (especially Noose. Rory and Alice are amazing characters).
This is exactly how a short story collection should be. Every story stands on its own and fleshes the world out further. In between them, we get an overarching story that connects all the different characters, times and happenings, presumably to already set up the next book. That keeps you intrigued and wanting to know more.
LaFaro manages to create a really great blend between psychological horror and gore. The atmosphere in all stories was perfect, dark and unsettling. Every short story, as well as the overarching story in between them, gets exactly the time it needs. Buzzard’s Edge as a whole is a very interesting setting, and I loved how the stories spanned different times.
I’m really glad I stepped out of my genre comfort zone with this one and really recommend it to anyone who is at all into horror. Though I would not necessarily recommend starting with this one. This is the kind of short story collection you will probably enjoy even more after being familiar with the characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This is exactly how a short story collection should be. Every story stands on its own and fleshes the world out further. In between them, we get an overarching story that connects all the different characters, times and happenings, presumably to already set up the next book. That keeps you intrigued and wanting to know more.
LaFaro manages to create a really great blend between psychological horror and gore. The atmosphere in all stories was perfect, dark and unsettling. Every short story, as well as the overarching story in between them, gets exactly the time it needs. Buzzard’s Edge as a whole is a very interesting setting, and I loved how the stories spanned different times.
I’m really glad I stepped out of my genre comfort zone with this one and really recommend it to anyone who is at all into horror. Though I would not necessarily recommend starting with this one. This is the kind of short story collection you will probably enjoy even more after being familiar with the characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
January 12, 2025
I have to confess that I normally have a difficult time reading short story collections, but this book was so engaging! I actually loved the way it was set up! It wasn't like a traditional shirt story collection where there are individual stories with similar themes but otherwise unrelated. In "Where Daybreak Ends," there are multiple short stories that have the same characters. Also my favourite part was that in between every story was the sections called "The Reaping" that was about Josiah Dennis who is found by a Coyote and Vulture who help guide him to the town of Buzzard's Edge all while telling him stories to pass the time.
Western Horror is a favorite of mine. I think the genres just blend so well together, and the author does a great job with it. Not every story deals with supernatural elements. There are a good variety to what the "evil" of the stories are. I'd give all the stories at least a 3/5. My favourite was "Ice Man" which is one of the longer ones and has my two favourite characters (other than Vulture and Coyote). I haven't read any other stories about Buzzards Edge before, but I'm definitely going to now!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Western Horror is a favorite of mine. I think the genres just blend so well together, and the author does a great job with it. Not every story deals with supernatural elements. There are a good variety to what the "evil" of the stories are. I'd give all the stories at least a 3/5. My favourite was "Ice Man" which is one of the longer ones and has my two favourite characters (other than Vulture and Coyote). I haven't read any other stories about Buzzards Edge before, but I'm definitely going to now!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.
October 30, 2024
Back to Buzzard’s Edge we go, with a collection of stories old and new that show just how weird this little frontier town is. And once again, I’m entirely here for it.
I love Brennan’s own logic within his worldbuilding, as the laws of nature twist when the sun goes down or some unforeseen boundary is crossed, leaving those facing their monsters to fight or fall. His writing is so skilful that even if the reader has only just met these characters a few pages ago, we’re rooting for them and trying to figure out what they can do to survive - if that’s even the best option.
I also appreciate that these are Westerns told with a nod to modern sensibility. Yes, society’s morals and values were different in those times, but the mix of black and white, male and female, able-bodied and crippled, coloniser and native are all drawn sensitively, as humans making their way in a very lethal environment. If you’ve read the other books in this series, even the truly villainous have their motivations - everybody feels real in a world where the unknown simply needs to be dealt with.
These are campfire tales with bite. Bring something to defend yourself with, maybe a bit of strong liquor, and settle down to enjoy.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
I love Brennan’s own logic within his worldbuilding, as the laws of nature twist when the sun goes down or some unforeseen boundary is crossed, leaving those facing their monsters to fight or fall. His writing is so skilful that even if the reader has only just met these characters a few pages ago, we’re rooting for them and trying to figure out what they can do to survive - if that’s even the best option.
I also appreciate that these are Westerns told with a nod to modern sensibility. Yes, society’s morals and values were different in those times, but the mix of black and white, male and female, able-bodied and crippled, coloniser and native are all drawn sensitively, as humans making their way in a very lethal environment. If you’ve read the other books in this series, even the truly villainous have their motivations - everybody feels real in a world where the unknown simply needs to be dealt with.
These are campfire tales with bite. Bring something to defend yourself with, maybe a bit of strong liquor, and settle down to enjoy.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
April 10, 2025
When I spotted this front cover, I just knew I had to see what on earth was going on - with what looks like a western novel, I then went on to see just how creepy this looked.
So, this is the Western horror genre which apparently is pretty widespread, yet, I've never come across any books like this before.
I used to read a lot of horror when I was younger and am just getting back into reading more again - and my Dad was a massive western fan - so this combination of the two, just felt quite natural and had me with all the feels! - My Dad would be proud!
So, obviously, I haven't read any other books in The Buzzards Edge saga and I believe there were references and returning characters here, but that honestly didn't ruin any of these stories at all for me and I think this worked well as a standalone read.
This book contained a collection of stories - being told by a talking buzzard and coyote - each linked together by the setting.
Well, there were some strange and eerie things going on here in Buzzards Edge...and I was there for all of it!
There are some dark themes touched on - as expected with this genre - so do check out the content warnings!
I loved the mix of genres so much. Having never read this genre, it was great to read about the fantastical and mythical beasts that I read about a lot, but all combined in the western setting - which I had such a strong visual image of in my head.
These were so well written and I found myself totally immersed from start to finish!
I'd intended splitting the stories over several days, but actually devoured over half the book in one sitting!
I'm completely intrigued by this genre now and feel like I'll definitely be checking out the other books in this series - if not all this author's work - I can even see myself becoming obsessed with if for a while!
This was the perfect introduction!
So, this is the Western horror genre which apparently is pretty widespread, yet, I've never come across any books like this before.
I used to read a lot of horror when I was younger and am just getting back into reading more again - and my Dad was a massive western fan - so this combination of the two, just felt quite natural and had me with all the feels! - My Dad would be proud!
So, obviously, I haven't read any other books in The Buzzards Edge saga and I believe there were references and returning characters here, but that honestly didn't ruin any of these stories at all for me and I think this worked well as a standalone read.
This book contained a collection of stories - being told by a talking buzzard and coyote - each linked together by the setting.
Well, there were some strange and eerie things going on here in Buzzards Edge...and I was there for all of it!
There are some dark themes touched on - as expected with this genre - so do check out the content warnings!
I loved the mix of genres so much. Having never read this genre, it was great to read about the fantastical and mythical beasts that I read about a lot, but all combined in the western setting - which I had such a strong visual image of in my head.
These were so well written and I found myself totally immersed from start to finish!
I'd intended splitting the stories over several days, but actually devoured over half the book in one sitting!
I'm completely intrigued by this genre now and feel like I'll definitely be checking out the other books in this series - if not all this author's work - I can even see myself becoming obsessed with if for a while!
This was the perfect introduction!
March 26, 2025
Well now, this was a treat. I really like the sound of this book, horror but written in a different way.
I hadn’t realised that this book was a collection of short stories, and as people may know by now, I love a great short story. When Josiah Dennis, almost dead through lack of food and the desert heat, his unlikely saviours begin to tell him the story of Buzzard’s Edge. There is one main story running throughout the pages and each short tale has been skilfully woven into it. All manner of monsters, beasts and people, both good and bad are represented within the pages. And although many of these tales from Buzzard’s Edge are truly terrifying, there are a couple which showed that sometimes it’s not the monsters who are evil.
I loved Where the Daybreak Ends, which although as I found when I read the Author’s note, is the third in the series, I didn’t need to read the first two by Brennan. But, as a huge lover of short fiction and novellas, I know without a shadow of a doubt I’ll be buying the first two books to return to Buzzard’s Edge.
I hadn’t realised that this book was a collection of short stories, and as people may know by now, I love a great short story. When Josiah Dennis, almost dead through lack of food and the desert heat, his unlikely saviours begin to tell him the story of Buzzard’s Edge. There is one main story running throughout the pages and each short tale has been skilfully woven into it. All manner of monsters, beasts and people, both good and bad are represented within the pages. And although many of these tales from Buzzard’s Edge are truly terrifying, there are a couple which showed that sometimes it’s not the monsters who are evil.
I loved Where the Daybreak Ends, which although as I found when I read the Author’s note, is the third in the series, I didn’t need to read the first two by Brennan. But, as a huge lover of short fiction and novellas, I know without a shadow of a doubt I’ll be buying the first two books to return to Buzzard’s Edge.
January 4, 2025
“This land drinks blood, Josiah. It feasts on misery.” This quote clearly describes what to expect when you come to the western town of Buzzard’s Edge. It’s a lesson Josiah learns as he is told several stories about this desert town from a vulture and a coyote.
As we experience these stories, we are introduced to many creatures, monsters, vampires, murderers, and bad people, just to name a few. Even though the stories are all separate and individual, they all intermingle in a strange sort of way.
I never imagined that I would like a western horror book, but I was honestly hooked. The author did a fantastic job tying everything together!
Thank you to Net Galley and Brigids Gate Press for this free ARC book in exchange for my candid review.
As we experience these stories, we are introduced to many creatures, monsters, vampires, murderers, and bad people, just to name a few. Even though the stories are all separate and individual, they all intermingle in a strange sort of way.
I never imagined that I would like a western horror book, but I was honestly hooked. The author did a fantastic job tying everything together!
Thank you to Net Galley and Brigids Gate Press for this free ARC book in exchange for my candid review.
September 17, 2025
I have to preface this review by saying that I haven't read the rest of the series, or any other books by this author. From that perspective, I'll say that this collection can be enjoyed even if you haven't read the other books, but I have a suspicion that it would be even more enjoyable if you do. There are obviously characters who were in previous books, along with the town's setting as a whole. "Where the Daybreak Ends" was a good teaser, and I might pick up some of the other books once I'm feeling like reading another western horror.
Anthologies and Collections can be hard to rate, because there are always bound to be stories you like more than others. I have started rating these types of books by rating each story, and then using an overall average for the book as a whole. For me, the first and last stories in this collection were my least favorite. I'm happy I stuck with it, because there was still a lot to enjoy throughout the rest of the book.
-They Only Come Out at Night/2 Stars: Creatures come to the edge of town at night, never passing the border. The end of this one felt a little rushed to me. I like the concept of the story, but with all the building suspense, the end fell a little flat.
-Come and Take My Hand/3 Stars: A boy with an abusive father is visited every night by a strange girl at his window. This one is bittersweet in so many ways. It's written well, but the storyline can be predictable if you've read quite a few other books with this theme.
-Holes/4 Stars: Holes start appearing all over the homestead of a tough as nails retired sheriff who has a few skeletons in his closet. This was one of my favorites in the book. The sheriff's history is brushed over in the story, but I get the feeling I'd love this one even more if I had read the other books.
-Where the Daybreak Ends/4 Stars: An imprisoned man tells his story of false imprisonment and lost love. I liked this one mostly because it was something different. It takes some tried and true tropes and adds interesting twists.
-Trade Secrets/3.5 Stars: This one's a mystery that starts with a body on the train tracks, and one of the passengers happens to be equipped to help out with the investigation. This was a solid story with a twist, and enjoyable enough to pass the time.
-Salvia Sunset/3 Stars: A store owner in a mining town has a scare one night, and the next day, people start to go missing. This one was interesting and keeps well with the overall theme of the collection, while adding a glimpse of the miners in town.
-The Ice Man/4 Stars: When a local business owner is murdered, two unexpected locals investigate the crime. What made this one a higher rating for me were the likable main characters. There were some interesting twists to the investigation, but I mostly enjoyed the interactions between the two main characters. I do wonder if this is one I would have liked even more if I had read previous books.
-When It's All Said and Done/2 Stars: Two hit men for hire get more than they bargained for when they kill a man for a supposed reward. This one had the beginnings of an interesting story but felt unfinished to me. I felt like I missed something with this one. Its placement in the book and way it's written made this one feel like an afterthought to me.
The Reaping/3 Stars: This is a story that is happening between each story as they're told. I figured I'd add it into the mix because it's a story within itself. It was interesting enough, and I understand why the story was added, but I just thought it was okay as a whole.
That all gives the book as a whole an average of 3.17 Stars, rounding it to a 3 Star Goodreads rating. For me, there weren't any stellar 5 star stories, but it wasn't a bad collection to pass the time when wanting some short reads.
Anthologies and Collections can be hard to rate, because there are always bound to be stories you like more than others. I have started rating these types of books by rating each story, and then using an overall average for the book as a whole. For me, the first and last stories in this collection were my least favorite. I'm happy I stuck with it, because there was still a lot to enjoy throughout the rest of the book.
-They Only Come Out at Night/2 Stars: Creatures come to the edge of town at night, never passing the border. The end of this one felt a little rushed to me. I like the concept of the story, but with all the building suspense, the end fell a little flat.
-Come and Take My Hand/3 Stars: A boy with an abusive father is visited every night by a strange girl at his window. This one is bittersweet in so many ways. It's written well, but the storyline can be predictable if you've read quite a few other books with this theme.
-Holes/4 Stars: Holes start appearing all over the homestead of a tough as nails retired sheriff who has a few skeletons in his closet. This was one of my favorites in the book. The sheriff's history is brushed over in the story, but I get the feeling I'd love this one even more if I had read the other books.
-Where the Daybreak Ends/4 Stars: An imprisoned man tells his story of false imprisonment and lost love. I liked this one mostly because it was something different. It takes some tried and true tropes and adds interesting twists.
-Trade Secrets/3.5 Stars: This one's a mystery that starts with a body on the train tracks, and one of the passengers happens to be equipped to help out with the investigation. This was a solid story with a twist, and enjoyable enough to pass the time.
-Salvia Sunset/3 Stars: A store owner in a mining town has a scare one night, and the next day, people start to go missing. This one was interesting and keeps well with the overall theme of the collection, while adding a glimpse of the miners in town.
-The Ice Man/4 Stars: When a local business owner is murdered, two unexpected locals investigate the crime. What made this one a higher rating for me were the likable main characters. There were some interesting twists to the investigation, but I mostly enjoyed the interactions between the two main characters. I do wonder if this is one I would have liked even more if I had read previous books.
-When It's All Said and Done/2 Stars: Two hit men for hire get more than they bargained for when they kill a man for a supposed reward. This one had the beginnings of an interesting story but felt unfinished to me. I felt like I missed something with this one. Its placement in the book and way it's written made this one feel like an afterthought to me.
The Reaping/3 Stars: This is a story that is happening between each story as they're told. I figured I'd add it into the mix because it's a story within itself. It was interesting enough, and I understand why the story was added, but I just thought it was okay as a whole.
That all gives the book as a whole an average of 3.17 Stars, rounding it to a 3 Star Goodreads rating. For me, there weren't any stellar 5 star stories, but it wasn't a bad collection to pass the time when wanting some short reads.
March 26, 2025
Where the Daybreak Ends
Brennan LaFaro
12/03/2024
This was so much fun to read. Is that weird that I say that? Maybe? Do I care? Nope. First of all, we all know that I am a lean all the way in reader and when the introductory letter to read asks you to let the story be the magic and understand that we will all take away something different, I knew I was in for a ride and would enjoy it. Also, realizing that these are short stories, of course I looked at each title and tried to pick which one I would go through first. NOPE! Don’t do it. (again thank goodness for a little guidance at the beginning) So while they are short stories, they each flow together cohesively one building upon the other.
Readers, I encourage you to let what we know as the ‘real world’ aka the mundane world to blur with the supernatural and go the undesirable places. Be part of the unpredictable and take in the stories about monsters! These stories are so immersive that you lose track of time while reading. You may get a little creeped out, or grossed out and will laugh out loud at some of the crude humor, but that checks all the marks off for me when reading this genre!
Enjoy the dust, the heat and blood at Buzzard’s Edge. You wont regret it!
Brennan LaFaro
12/03/2024
This was so much fun to read. Is that weird that I say that? Maybe? Do I care? Nope. First of all, we all know that I am a lean all the way in reader and when the introductory letter to read asks you to let the story be the magic and understand that we will all take away something different, I knew I was in for a ride and would enjoy it. Also, realizing that these are short stories, of course I looked at each title and tried to pick which one I would go through first. NOPE! Don’t do it. (again thank goodness for a little guidance at the beginning) So while they are short stories, they each flow together cohesively one building upon the other.
Readers, I encourage you to let what we know as the ‘real world’ aka the mundane world to blur with the supernatural and go the undesirable places. Be part of the unpredictable and take in the stories about monsters! These stories are so immersive that you lose track of time while reading. You may get a little creeped out, or grossed out and will laugh out loud at some of the crude humor, but that checks all the marks off for me when reading this genre!
Enjoy the dust, the heat and blood at Buzzard’s Edge. You wont regret it!
March 30, 2025
Here is my review for Where The Daybreak Ends by Brennan LaFaro
I really enjoyed Where The Daybreak Ends and the short stories that weren’t always that short! They were interesting and full of unusual characters. There was Josiah Dennis who was all alone in the desert and absolutely covered in blood. His two companions were a coyote and a buzzard. There was an interesting tale of vampires and a young witch looming over Buzzard’s Edge. These were very intriguing stories and I found them very interesting, especially when I found there were more books covering this abandoned town which I would like to read in the future. I found it fascinating that this author could think up such a great range of short stories.
Blurb :
Alone in the desert and covered in blood, Josiah Dennis comes across an abandoned town, and two unlikely storytellers burdened with sharing its history—past, present, and future.
Rogue gangs of vampires, young witches, flayed cadavers, giant lizards, and men with dark hearts dwell in these pages, looming over Buzzard’s Edge, a town full of people struggling to survive in an unforgiving Arizona frontier.
So, sit down a spell, and settle where the daybreak ends.
I really enjoyed Where The Daybreak Ends and the short stories that weren’t always that short! They were interesting and full of unusual characters. There was Josiah Dennis who was all alone in the desert and absolutely covered in blood. His two companions were a coyote and a buzzard. There was an interesting tale of vampires and a young witch looming over Buzzard’s Edge. These were very intriguing stories and I found them very interesting, especially when I found there were more books covering this abandoned town which I would like to read in the future. I found it fascinating that this author could think up such a great range of short stories.
Blurb :
Alone in the desert and covered in blood, Josiah Dennis comes across an abandoned town, and two unlikely storytellers burdened with sharing its history—past, present, and future.
Rogue gangs of vampires, young witches, flayed cadavers, giant lizards, and men with dark hearts dwell in these pages, looming over Buzzard’s Edge, a town full of people struggling to survive in an unforgiving Arizona frontier.
So, sit down a spell, and settle where the daybreak ends.
December 1, 2024
Where the Daybreak Ends
By Brennan LaFaro
Release date December 3, 2024 (just 2 days away 😃♥️)
We’re back in the town of Buzzard’s Edge, where we get to meet more of the towns characters and explore a lot more of the town and its history through these short stories.
As a huge fan of the original 2 books, this was an awesome addition. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…reading Brennan’s books is like coming home to an old friend. The writing just draws you in, and these stories are no exception. Packed full of good authentic western writing with a wallop of great horror, and a hefty helping of action/adventure, you just can’t go wrong.
I dont think you have to read this book after the original 2, but it might help. Either way you read them you are in for a grand western horror adventure. BUT do read the original 2 (Noose, The Demon of Devil’s Cavern) in order.
Let’s not forget to mention the amazing cover art for these books 😍
Thank you so much Brennan for the arc, and everybody else, go check this book out, you won’t be disappointed.
By Brennan LaFaro
Release date December 3, 2024 (just 2 days away 😃♥️)
We’re back in the town of Buzzard’s Edge, where we get to meet more of the towns characters and explore a lot more of the town and its history through these short stories.
As a huge fan of the original 2 books, this was an awesome addition. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…reading Brennan’s books is like coming home to an old friend. The writing just draws you in, and these stories are no exception. Packed full of good authentic western writing with a wallop of great horror, and a hefty helping of action/adventure, you just can’t go wrong.
I dont think you have to read this book after the original 2, but it might help. Either way you read them you are in for a grand western horror adventure. BUT do read the original 2 (Noose, The Demon of Devil’s Cavern) in order.
Let’s not forget to mention the amazing cover art for these books 😍
Thank you so much Brennan for the arc, and everybody else, go check this book out, you won’t be disappointed.
December 7, 2024
I was so excited to return to Buzzard's Edge, and this collection of stories didn't disappoint. I've known it was a unique place since the first Rory Daggett book that it was a place like none other, and this collection really highlights that. The good, the bad, the ugly, and the terrifying. LaFaro does a great job of drawing you in with vivid descriptions, and bringing the characters to life before your eyes. The way it was written - like two indescribably old beings who are stuck watching the fate of the town from start to finish and keeping it alive with their stories helped set the mood quite well. Although it would've been tempting to read this cover to cover with as few breaks as possible, I found it easier to get through my chores if I paused after each chapter, or story. Each story is connected, but stands alone on its own too. If you enjoy the old west and horror, this is a great mix of the two. That said, I hope there are more stories to come from Buzzard's Edge, I'm sure we haven't heard about everything the inhabitants have seen or experienced yet.
July 4, 2025
Let me say when I discovered that Horror Westerns exist I was more than a little happy, I was ecstatic. Something about the ‘wild west’ mixed with horror is something I didn’t know I needed and luckily LaFaro knows how to write them. I loved Where the Daybreak Ends. It manages to capture the allure and isolation of the wild west but mixes this in with vampires, witches and who knows what else that lurks in the dark. I have said in regards to the others in the series it has a bit of a Dresden files vibe but as before I honestly think this is better.
LaFaro is a master at combining an historical period with horror that works and keeps you hooked. The characters are all complex and you can’t help but get invested in the tales. Honestly I cannot wait to get physical copies of this series because it is so good. If you love Westerns and horror you need this series in your life.As always thank you to Zooloo’s Book Tours for the copy to review. My review is always honest, truthful and freely given.
LaFaro is a master at combining an historical period with horror that works and keeps you hooked. The characters are all complex and you can’t help but get invested in the tales. Honestly I cannot wait to get physical copies of this series because it is so good. If you love Westerns and horror you need this series in your life.As always thank you to Zooloo’s Book Tours for the copy to review. My review is always honest, truthful and freely given.
November 23, 2024
There is a sort of magic in reading tales from the old west. It seems to transport you in a way that few other settings can. A time where communication meant face to face or hand written letters and weeks to months of waiting. A time where getting things done was a series of trial and error. A time where lawlessness was a way of life for many and greed controlled the frontier.
What Lafarro does to this gritty world by throwing in supernatural beasts and beings adds a new level of helplessness that makes the common man soil their britches as they freeze up and wait for a death that is soon delivered. For the reader, that helplessness is doubly so as you are mentally trying to help these characters that have quickly become your friends, and trying to do so without all the knowledge and modern conveniences readily at our disposable.
What Lafarro does to this gritty world by throwing in supernatural beasts and beings adds a new level of helplessness that makes the common man soil their britches as they freeze up and wait for a death that is soon delivered. For the reader, that helplessness is doubly so as you are mentally trying to help these characters that have quickly become your friends, and trying to do so without all the knowledge and modern conveniences readily at our disposable.
March 27, 2025
I have read a lot of horror books but I haven't many horror books that are western horror or in fact many western books in general so I was excited to read and review this book.
I believe this is part of a series set in Buzzard's Edge although this is the first I have read and I don't feel I was hindered at all but would like to read the rest.
The book was well written and was a collection of stories which were all well done and really enjoyable.I loved the narrators of the story too which were unexpected to me but I loved it.
I loved the fact that there were the usual elements of a horror book but placed in the western setting which made it all that more interesting to me.
All of the stories were so engaging and instantly sucked me in, I finished this in one sitting, I just couldn't put it down.
I believe this is part of a series set in Buzzard's Edge although this is the first I have read and I don't feel I was hindered at all but would like to read the rest.
The book was well written and was a collection of stories which were all well done and really enjoyable.I loved the narrators of the story too which were unexpected to me but I loved it.
I loved the fact that there were the usual elements of a horror book but placed in the western setting which made it all that more interesting to me.
All of the stories were so engaging and instantly sucked me in, I finished this in one sitting, I just couldn't put it down.
November 14, 2024
Lately I had been watching a lot of Wild West movies and shows, and I love horror, especially short story collections, so when I saw this book on BookSirens i immediately went for it. The cover gave me kind of like Heisenberg vibes from resident evil 8, which made me even more interested!
I highly enjoyed this book! Read through the entire thing in 1 day while recovering from surgery. I felt it was an easy read, yet still very intriguing and unique. It read like watching a movie, which imo is a very good thing.
I recommend this book to anyone that loves horror and wants to try something a little different form the typical haunted house or slasher scenario
Amazing read!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I highly enjoyed this book! Read through the entire thing in 1 day while recovering from surgery. I felt it was an easy read, yet still very intriguing and unique. It read like watching a movie, which imo is a very good thing.
I recommend this book to anyone that loves horror and wants to try something a little different form the typical haunted house or slasher scenario
Amazing read!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 25, 2025
Where the Day break ends by Brennan Lafarc.
I really did like the cover of this book. I'm not normally a Western fan, but the cover really caught my eye.
The reaping part one
They only come out at night
The reaping part two
come and take my hand✔️
The reaping part three
Holes
The reaping part four
Where the day break ends
The reaping part five
Trade secrets✔️
The reaping part six
Sylvia sunset
The reaping part seven
The ice man✔️
The reaping part eight
When it's all said and done
The reaping part nine
I did like how the stories were told. Stories within a story. My absolute favourite was come and take my hand. My favourites are ticked. Very well written. Different and unusual. I recommend this book.
I really did like the cover of this book. I'm not normally a Western fan, but the cover really caught my eye.
The reaping part one
They only come out at night
The reaping part two
come and take my hand✔️
The reaping part three
Holes
The reaping part four
Where the day break ends
The reaping part five
Trade secrets✔️
The reaping part six
Sylvia sunset
The reaping part seven
The ice man✔️
The reaping part eight
When it's all said and done
The reaping part nine
I did like how the stories were told. Stories within a story. My absolute favourite was come and take my hand. My favourites are ticked. Very well written. Different and unusual. I recommend this book.
December 28, 2024
I really enjoyed going back to Buzzards Edge. The characters are more developed in these stories. The stories are more extreme and the town is more fleshed out. I first learned about Buzzards Edge with a train ride into the wild wild west in the book Noose. I explored the caves and surrounding landscape around Buzzards edge in the book The Demon of Devils Carvern. This book gives a closer look at the townsfolks of Buzzards Edge. These three books can be read as published or out of order. They are each written as standalone.
Lovers of old westerns like Gunsmoke 1955 and Bonanza 1959 with an extreme horror tweak are in for a real treat.
Lovers of old westerns like Gunsmoke 1955 and Bonanza 1959 with an extreme horror tweak are in for a real treat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2024
Buzzards Edge is not a place you might want to visit, but it is a wild ride where you can meet vampires, wizards, hard nosed cowboys, bad men with blackness in their hearts and all wrapped up in an amazing weird western theme under the relentless heartless sun…..”Paranoia stemming from dehydration and the ceaseless Arizona heat”……” A nowhere town baking under the desert sun”.....The scene is set by our 2 mysterious narrators: hyena and his buddy buzzard and the fast moving stories with an evil theme all take place…”in the desert, everything is monotony and doom. No matter how quickly you move, the land stills around you”.....Wonderful stuff and highly recommended.
April 22, 2025
The third book in the Buzzard's Edge series, this time a collection of short stories, based in the same universe as the previous two novels, but focused on different characters, providing a different perspective on the town and the mysteries surrounding it.
Within the genre of western horror or supernatural, LaFaro has found a style that closely resembles the pulp western series, which are quick reads and entertaining.
Perhaps the best compliment is that I will be eagerly awaiting the third novel in the series to continue the adventures of Buzzard's Edge
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Within the genre of western horror or supernatural, LaFaro has found a style that closely resembles the pulp western series, which are quick reads and entertaining.
Perhaps the best compliment is that I will be eagerly awaiting the third novel in the series to continue the adventures of Buzzard's Edge
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 27, 2025
The gold standard for what a short story collection should look like!
I love the way Brennan wove this together to unite individual stories around a common narrative. It made the short stories easy to get into and made me want to move on to the next story when I finished the previous one, something that I sometimes struggle with when reading collections or anthologies.
The setting in Buzzard’s Edge and the depth the stories add to previous adventures there only makes it better.
This is a short story collection anyone interested in western horror should read, and that horror writers should examine to explore ways to imitate it with their own work.
I love the way Brennan wove this together to unite individual stories around a common narrative. It made the short stories easy to get into and made me want to move on to the next story when I finished the previous one, something that I sometimes struggle with when reading collections or anthologies.
The setting in Buzzard’s Edge and the depth the stories add to previous adventures there only makes it better.
This is a short story collection anyone interested in western horror should read, and that horror writers should examine to explore ways to imitate it with their own work.
December 17, 2024
After reading Noose and The Demon of Devil's Cavern, I was excited to revisit the world of Buzzard's Edge in this series of short stories. It did not disappoint! With a mix of new characters and some familiar favourites, each story sucked me in as quickly as the first two novels. My favourite stories were They Only Come Out at Night, Come and Take My Hand, and of course, The Ice Man because I just can't get enough of Rory and Alice's adventures. I enjoyed all the stories, and would recommend Where the Daybreak Ends to anyone who enjoys Western Horror.
December 10, 2024
I got this book hoping it had a bunch more of Rory and, especially, Alice. And although they were only in one full story and briefly at the end of another, I was not disappointed at all with book. It took a wild ride around and through Buzzard’s Edge and left blood seeping into the sand page after page.
Great read and I’m already looking forward to the next installment from Brennan about this little Arizona town and it’s people!
Great read and I’m already looking forward to the next installment from Brennan about this little Arizona town and it’s people!
December 17, 2024
Brennan LaFaro serves up a heaping helping of weird western spaghetti, weaving the varied strands into a meal fit for the most impatient rapacious buzzards to feast upon with heads thrust deeply worming through the innards.
Buzzard's Edge is fittingly named.
If you have yet to partake in a good game of Faro, pull up a chair or a tombstone, and settle in to Break your Fast "Where the DayBreak Ends."
Buzzard's Edge is fittingly named.
If you have yet to partake in a good game of Faro, pull up a chair or a tombstone, and settle in to Break your Fast "Where the DayBreak Ends."
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