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Blood Night: A Brutal 1980s Small-Town Slasher Horror
No reason. No remorse.
It’s June, 1987, and with the single flip of a coin, Death has come to the quiet town of Elden Mills.
No one is safe; a flicker of movement or a sudden noise is all it takes to draw his attention. Lurking in the shadows behind a pale mask, he is driven by the need to fill the streets with blood and screams.
If he sees you, you’re dead.
Morgan Bell fled Elden Mills and everyone who cared about her after a life-shattering assault. Now, after years of self-alienation, she returns to her hometown to pick up the pieces of her former existence. But Morgan’s hopes of starting over are ripped away during a deadly encounter with the madman.
In her darkest moment, Morgan must confront both the painful memories of her own attack and the cold, unfeeling brutality behind the mask.
Will she find healing in the shadows, or add her voice to the chorus of screams?
"Evocative, hypnotic, and ruthless... Blood Night is alarmingly engrossing from the dreary opening scene all the way to its breathtaking crescendo. Jonathan Daniel effortlessly paints a gorgeous, dark world through his masterful prose, and populates it with distinct and fascinating characters. The story drips with atmosphere, brims with dread, and bursts with thrilling flourishes sharp enough to ribbon the pages with readers' blood."
- Felix Blackwell, bestselling author of Stolen Tongues and The Church Beneath the Roots
"Translates like a tale told by an old friend...The author does a brilliant job of accentuating empathy, therefore lowering the audience's guard—just when we least expect it, the true terror is unleashed." - HorrorNews
It’s June, 1987, and with the single flip of a coin, Death has come to the quiet town of Elden Mills.
No one is safe; a flicker of movement or a sudden noise is all it takes to draw his attention. Lurking in the shadows behind a pale mask, he is driven by the need to fill the streets with blood and screams.
If he sees you, you’re dead.
Morgan Bell fled Elden Mills and everyone who cared about her after a life-shattering assault. Now, after years of self-alienation, she returns to her hometown to pick up the pieces of her former existence. But Morgan’s hopes of starting over are ripped away during a deadly encounter with the madman.
In her darkest moment, Morgan must confront both the painful memories of her own attack and the cold, unfeeling brutality behind the mask.
Will she find healing in the shadows, or add her voice to the chorus of screams?
"Evocative, hypnotic, and ruthless... Blood Night is alarmingly engrossing from the dreary opening scene all the way to its breathtaking crescendo. Jonathan Daniel effortlessly paints a gorgeous, dark world through his masterful prose, and populates it with distinct and fascinating characters. The story drips with atmosphere, brims with dread, and bursts with thrilling flourishes sharp enough to ribbon the pages with readers' blood."
- Felix Blackwell, bestselling author of Stolen Tongues and The Church Beneath the Roots
"Translates like a tale told by an old friend...The author does a brilliant job of accentuating empathy, therefore lowering the audience's guard—just when we least expect it, the true terror is unleashed." - HorrorNews
- GenresHorror
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2024
57 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Daniel
10 books28 followersI write stories that pull you in fast and don’t let go—dark, gripping tales where danger lurks in the shadows and the past is never really buried. My books are filled with flawed, sharp-edged characters fighting their way through eerie landscapes, whether it’s a haunted town in the Deep South or a world unraveling under its own corruption. In addition to my books, I’ve had several short pieces published in various magazines such as Black Petals, The Harrow and Lullaby Hearse.
I live in Birmingham, Alabama with my wife and hyper Boston Terrier, Buster. When not writing about nightmarish things, I enjoy cooking, reading, brewing beer and trying to watch every horror movie made in the 80’s.
Follow me at: byjonathandaniel.dot.com
I live in Birmingham, Alabama with my wife and hyper Boston Terrier, Buster. When not writing about nightmarish things, I enjoy cooking, reading, brewing beer and trying to watch every horror movie made in the 80’s.
Follow me at: byjonathandaniel.dot.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
July 20, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ | This one will be a hit for those that enjoy older horror/slasher films. As an avid horror movie lover, I very much enjoyed it.
The level of resilience and determination that Morgan‘s character possessed was truly admirable. As she went back to her hometown to face a demon from her past that she left behind long ago, she couldn’t have imagined the terror that awaited her in this small town.
Jonathan Daniel does an epic job of creating those horror scenes that make you feel like you are watching it play out. The level of detail provided, takes a unique and special writing style and I will definitely be diving more into his work.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The level of resilience and determination that Morgan‘s character possessed was truly admirable. As she went back to her hometown to face a demon from her past that she left behind long ago, she couldn’t have imagined the terror that awaited her in this small town.
Jonathan Daniel does an epic job of creating those horror scenes that make you feel like you are watching it play out. The level of detail provided, takes a unique and special writing style and I will definitely be diving more into his work.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 16, 2024
It’s like watching a SLASHER movie in your head. The killer scenes had me scared in my bed I the middle of the night. There was a lot of characters towards the middle but that’s because of all of the killings. 🤣 Everyone got a little love before they were taken out hammer style. No scary movie actually scares me anymore so I’m so happy I found this author to keep me on my toes in the middle of the night when I hear something outside!
June 6, 2025
if you like slasher movies you’ll like this
October 8, 2024
Morgan returns home a place she never wanted to go back to. She hopes to make things right. But something is stalking her little town. A brutal killer is wandering the streets. Can they be stopped? Morgan faces inner demons and outer evils to survive. Will. She? Strong character 's amazing story. Intense read.
July 6, 2025
A love letter to slasher fans, to the gore-soaked, blood-slicked intricacies of a genre dependent upon the misery of others, Blood Night was the perfect example of how well-loved, classic slashers can be effectively translated from cinema-screens to the pages of a book. Wholly deserving of far more recognition for his writing, author Jonathan Daniel creates an incredibly grotesque and unputdownable cabinet of murdererous delights, his prose illuminated in the deadly shadows of infamous figureheads like Jason (1980) and Michael Myers (1978). The pulverisation of a single small town told in the perspectives of a handful of different, well-rounded characters, Blood Night embodied what it means to be a good, compelling slasher: a token, likeable Final Girl, the infuriating ‘lets split up’ trope, a final, heart-pounding showdown with the masked killer and an iconic, distinctive weapon of choice. As far as final girls go, Morgan was an incredibly illustrious and multi-dimensional protagonist; her back-story and overall motivations were emotive and devastating, encouraging readers to urge her forward in her fight for survival. Daniel’s prose was vivid and remarkably graphic and was exactly what I had been looking for in a literary slasher! Bloody and action-packed, pulling at heartstrings while also endeavouring to make you sick to your stomach, Blood Night was an entertaining thrill-ride into the depraved and psychopathic mind of a true slasher and deserves far more recognition! 4.5 stars.
August 14, 2025
One of those books where there isn't anything inherently wrong with it, but it just failed to capture me in anyway. I thought the main character was well written but the murder scenes were little boring. The ending battle saved this a little for me.
September 17, 2025
This was a great classic 80’s slasher but in book form. A clear love letter to the genre with major Halloween vibes, and all the usual elements you’d come to expect: lots of gore, a masked killer, and a complex but fierce final girl.
Such a fun read for spooky season 🖤🔪
Such a fun read for spooky season 🖤🔪
January 30, 2025
Had some serious Halloween 1978 vibes and that’s not a bad thing!
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August 4, 2025 If you like the 80s slasher movies then you’ll definitely love this. Creepy vibes and scary killers ahead
September 10, 2024
Plenty of gore in a good way! Megan goes back to her hometown to try to heal from her past and make amends with her family and friends. Megan is not the only one who heads toward this town. A killer let’s chance decide on turning left or right. He is meticulous and cunning. He rivals the one and only Michael Myers in body count. This was a solid read and kept my attention. If you enjoys 1980’s slashers this one is a must read.
May 21, 2025
Expected a lot more from this book. I didn’t love the ending and felt like the entire book dragged.
July 12, 2025
This one scratched that classic slasher itch in all the right ways. Think Halloween or Friday the 13th with a modern gore dial turned all the way up. Blood Night reads like a love letter to 80s and 90s horror, masked killer, small town secrets, and a final girl trying to outrun more than just the blade.
Morgan, our FMC, is complicated. She left town trying to escape her past, only to realize her new life was built on avoidance and denial. So she heads home, looking for some kind of peace... and walks straight into a nightmare. A masked killer shows up right about the same time she does, and the body count starts climbing fast.
There is a lot of blood. Some moments were maybe a little much for my taste, but they drove home one thing... no one is safe. The book sets the tone early, and once the killings start, they do not let up. Stakes get higher, tension gets tighter, and you really never know who is going to make it to the end.
Morgan held her own. She is not a superhero, she is just someone who has been through it and is trying to survive one more thing. My only gripe? The killer moves like a ghost against everyone else, flawless and unstoppable, but suddenly struggles when Morgan is the target. It did not break the story, but it did stand out.
Still, the vibe is strong. If you are looking for something gritty, fast paced, and packed with brutal throwback slasher energy, this one definitely delivers. A solid horror thriller with sharp edges and blood in its teeth.
Morgan, our FMC, is complicated. She left town trying to escape her past, only to realize her new life was built on avoidance and denial. So she heads home, looking for some kind of peace... and walks straight into a nightmare. A masked killer shows up right about the same time she does, and the body count starts climbing fast.
There is a lot of blood. Some moments were maybe a little much for my taste, but they drove home one thing... no one is safe. The book sets the tone early, and once the killings start, they do not let up. Stakes get higher, tension gets tighter, and you really never know who is going to make it to the end.
Morgan held her own. She is not a superhero, she is just someone who has been through it and is trying to survive one more thing. My only gripe? The killer moves like a ghost against everyone else, flawless and unstoppable, but suddenly struggles when Morgan is the target. It did not break the story, but it did stand out.
Still, the vibe is strong. If you are looking for something gritty, fast paced, and packed with brutal throwback slasher energy, this one definitely delivers. A solid horror thriller with sharp edges and blood in its teeth.
October 16, 2024
If you are looking for an over the top murder/vigilante crazy ride of a well written book then this read is for you. From the very first page to the last page of this book you will be terrified, horrified and be redeemed with how this author handles this gore filled book. My skin crawled every time a scene came up with the masked man. I cannot imagine the pure terror each victim felt with the realization of what was going to happen. There was no rhyme or reason as to why he chose these people as victims. I was glad Morgan was able to make amends with people in her life. After her attack she was so broken. She needed the ability to forgive herself that what happened to her was not her fault now did she deserve to beat herself up. Even toward the end of the book, there was no clue as to who the killer was. This made the story even more horrific because no one knew the reasons why. This concept alone will keep this book living in my head rent free for awhile.
October 22, 2024
It’s June 7, 1987 (my actual 16th bday haha) and there is a vicious depraved serial killer on the loose in the small town of Elden Mills. Morgan returns to her home town to see her parents and younger brother but nothing could’ve prepared her for the terror and insanity that awaits her arrival. There is a maniac on the loose and if he sees you, it’s too late.
If you’re a fan of horror, slasher, gore with a little twist of 80s nostalgia, this will be your new favorite book. From Morgan’s traumatic past, her boyfriends devotion and loyalty to her and her big sister love and care for her little brother, the characters are all so relatable and well developed. I was drawn in from the first page and finished the book in two days going on a ride of love, blood, past trauma, friendship, gore, fear, family, forgiveness and survival. Easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me !
If you’re a fan of horror, slasher, gore with a little twist of 80s nostalgia, this will be your new favorite book. From Morgan’s traumatic past, her boyfriends devotion and loyalty to her and her big sister love and care for her little brother, the characters are all so relatable and well developed. I was drawn in from the first page and finished the book in two days going on a ride of love, blood, past trauma, friendship, gore, fear, family, forgiveness and survival. Easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me !
October 13, 2024
Blood NIght, written by Jonathan Daniel, is my first book by this author, and I have enjoyed every minute of it.
If you are a horror fan, you must give this one a try. The author painted eerie pictures in my head as we got to know Morgan, the FMC, and other characters. He took his time to create the world and those in it before it all came crumbling down. I loved the 80s old-school slasher vibes. Hello, my favorite! The story is action-packed and filled with gore - you know, to make my horror-loving heart happy. Jonathan spared no detail. No one is safe! It is highly recommended for the spooky season!
Thank you to Jonathan Daniel for gifting me an eARC of Blood Night. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you are a horror fan, you must give this one a try. The author painted eerie pictures in my head as we got to know Morgan, the FMC, and other characters. He took his time to create the world and those in it before it all came crumbling down. I loved the 80s old-school slasher vibes. Hello, my favorite! The story is action-packed and filled with gore - you know, to make my horror-loving heart happy. Jonathan spared no detail. No one is safe! It is highly recommended for the spooky season!
Thank you to Jonathan Daniel for gifting me an eARC of Blood Night. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 21, 2024
This was such a good spooky, horror story. It's had me looking over my shoulder all week. The scenes played out like a movie in my head and stuck with me. There's lots of gore as you'd expect from a masked killer. I enjoyed the way the story was written, so that we got a little more background on the characters and a little on their life before we got to the spooks. It's fast paced and addictive, like when you're watching a scary movie and you know something gruesome is about to happen but you can't look away. Definitely Mike Myers vibes. The writing style was easy to follow and there is a little character development with the main characters. Morgan is a likable and relatable character. Great reading for Halloween!
September 30, 2024
Reading this book was like watching a slasher movie. I could see everything unfold in my mind‘s eye by the way the author painted the pictures. I loved how he took time to let us connect with Morgan and the other characters instead of immediately just diving in to the horror and the action. It made what did happen that much more effective. when it was time for the kills, they were brutal and very impactful. I enjoyed the villain in this book because he was just like a machine that killed on instinct. I would have like to get some more background information on him, but not having that information might have made him even more creepy. definitely a very good book.
April 26, 2025
Have you ever read a book filled with page turning action, violence, and gore? I just did. If you love slasher type horror, this book is for you. And like most slasher movies, there are questions you want answered by the end. Will you find out who the killer is, or will you be left hanging? Will your favorite characters survive? Morgan comes home when reality finally kicks in for her. She needs to come to terms with her past. She needs to make amends with those she hurt and seek justice for those who hurt her. But once home, there is death all around. Will she make peace with those she hurt? Will she get the justice she deserves? Will she live to see another day?
June 13, 2025
Summary:
In June 1987, Death has come to small town Elden Mills, by the fate of a coin. He is lurking in shadows with his pale mask, brutal and just wants to fill the streets with blood and screams.
Morgan Bell has returned to Elden Mills after surviving brutal assault, hoping to start over. As a masked killer terrorizes a small town, Morgan must face both real violence and her own trauma.
Review:
"Blood Night" is a homage to 80's slasher horror films. Brutal killings, horror, killer without a purpose is a perfect read for fans of Halloween and Friday the 13th. Blood night draws you in from the first page and doesn't let go until the last page with its slasher killings and 80's atmosphere.
In June 1987, Death has come to small town Elden Mills, by the fate of a coin. He is lurking in shadows with his pale mask, brutal and just wants to fill the streets with blood and screams.
Morgan Bell has returned to Elden Mills after surviving brutal assault, hoping to start over. As a masked killer terrorizes a small town, Morgan must face both real violence and her own trauma.
Review:
"Blood Night" is a homage to 80's slasher horror films. Brutal killings, horror, killer without a purpose is a perfect read for fans of Halloween and Friday the 13th. Blood night draws you in from the first page and doesn't let go until the last page with its slasher killings and 80's atmosphere.
December 24, 2024
This was so good! I did however get very confused in the being on the POV switch and had to go back to catch things I missed. That did have me teetering on a 4 star, but 5 was worth it.
This was like watching a slasher movie from the 80s. Those were my favorite growing up, so it brought me back to my childhood. This was hard to put down and I had to just keep reading it.
This story was so good. Morgan did get on my nerves a bit. I did like her growth in the end. I was always yelling at her to turn to her friends for support and it was nice to see that she finally tried to do so.
This was like watching a slasher movie from the 80s. Those were my favorite growing up, so it brought me back to my childhood. This was hard to put down and I had to just keep reading it.
This story was so good. Morgan did get on my nerves a bit. I did like her growth in the end. I was always yelling at her to turn to her friends for support and it was nice to see that she finally tried to do so.
June 20, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blood Night was my first book by Jonathan Daniel, and it definitely will not be my last.
Morgan has a lot of "final girl" energy as she has to face a madman and relieve her traumas. This book is a perfect example of you cant go home, as the terror and violence awaits. There is gore, but it well placed in the story. There are moments that you wonder how much more Morgan can take.
Definitely well written and cannot wait to read more by this author.
Blood Night was my first book by Jonathan Daniel, and it definitely will not be my last.
Morgan has a lot of "final girl" energy as she has to face a madman and relieve her traumas. This book is a perfect example of you cant go home, as the terror and violence awaits. There is gore, but it well placed in the story. There are moments that you wonder how much more Morgan can take.
Definitely well written and cannot wait to read more by this author.
June 26, 2025
A nice book to finish the night off!
Positives=
- final girl Morgan felt very flesh out and lovable as a character and I’m happy she got her revenge
- viewpoint changed between the survivors and the killer once in a while, it was fun to see his perspective!
- nice setting of scenery, easy to visualise places and scenes
Cons=
-seemed to go on for a long while!
- lots of different characters and names to keep track of it does get very confusing
-majority of kills were headshot, eye based = could have done with some variety, e.g. maybe kill someone with a factory machine!
Positives=
- final girl Morgan felt very flesh out and lovable as a character and I’m happy she got her revenge
- viewpoint changed between the survivors and the killer once in a while, it was fun to see his perspective!
- nice setting of scenery, easy to visualise places and scenes
Cons=
-seemed to go on for a long while!
- lots of different characters and names to keep track of it does get very confusing
-majority of kills were headshot, eye based = could have done with some variety, e.g. maybe kill someone with a factory machine!
October 1, 2024
A brutal 80s slasher with Friday the 13th vibes. A masked man is terrorising a small town, murdering people by smashing their bodies with a huge spiked hammer. Men, women, and children; no one is safe.
This was so tense, and had me turning lights on just so I could go to the bathroom. I'm so hopeful that there will be a follow up to this, because that story was definitely not finished.
If you like your slashers bloody, this is definitely one for you.
This was so tense, and had me turning lights on just so I could go to the bathroom. I'm so hopeful that there will be a follow up to this, because that story was definitely not finished.
If you like your slashers bloody, this is definitely one for you.
October 8, 2024
Morgan returns home in hopes to make things right. But something sinister is stalking in the woods around her little town a brutal killer lurking in the dark… can they be stoped? Will it be too late for everyone Morgan loves? can she make things right? Or will she be the next victim?
Blood night is full of action, gore, and suspense. It reads as if you’re sitting in front of your tv, watching a 1980’s slasher movie waiting for another scare
Blood night is full of action, gore, and suspense. It reads as if you’re sitting in front of your tv, watching a 1980’s slasher movie waiting for another scare
October 8, 2024
Blood Night by Jonathan Daniel
🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a super fun horror/slasher book! The story is a pretty wild and intense one, with lots of gore and killings!
Morgan returns to her hometown after several years of being gone to try and rebuild her life, but she runs into a whole lot more!
This is a fast paced read that sucked me in. I enjoyed the authors writing style also!
Thank you to Jonathan Daniel for an arc of this awesome book!!
*It’s out now, so grab your copy for the spooky season!*
🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a super fun horror/slasher book! The story is a pretty wild and intense one, with lots of gore and killings!
Morgan returns to her hometown after several years of being gone to try and rebuild her life, but she runs into a whole lot more!
This is a fast paced read that sucked me in. I enjoyed the authors writing style also!
Thank you to Jonathan Daniel for an arc of this awesome book!!
*It’s out now, so grab your copy for the spooky season!*
April 30, 2025
Morgan left her home town suddenly after an assault but she decides to come back at the same time as a bloodthirsty slasher arrives in town. Slashing ensues.
This was an excellent slasher that I read in one sitting. It was well written and I enjoyed the story. The kills were described very thoroughly and I cringed my way through many of the descriptions. It was very visceral which was great. If you like 80s slashers, you'll like this.
I got an ARC for an honest review.
This was an excellent slasher that I read in one sitting. It was well written and I enjoyed the story. The kills were described very thoroughly and I cringed my way through many of the descriptions. It was very visceral which was great. If you like 80s slashers, you'll like this.
I got an ARC for an honest review.
November 20, 2024
🩸 My Review 🩸
What a read this was! Absolutely brilliant!
This feels like such a classic 80s horror! It's very nostalgic, from the mask, to the blood, to the terror to the buzz of electricity you feel while reading!
It's 100% movie material, but they don't make horror movies like they used to I'd be so afraid they ruined the story.
Anyway I absolutely loved this!
What a read this was! Absolutely brilliant!
This feels like such a classic 80s horror! It's very nostalgic, from the mask, to the blood, to the terror to the buzz of electricity you feel while reading!
It's 100% movie material, but they don't make horror movies like they used to I'd be so afraid they ruined the story.
Anyway I absolutely loved this!
August 5, 2025
If you love a 80's type slasher where you're watching the killer stalk his victims then this is the story for you. Jonathan does a great job of keeping the reader on edge and the gore flying. It's action packed and had quite a few surprises along the way. Look forward to reading more from him in the future.
November 28, 2025
I love 80s horror as it’s what I grew up on so this was very nostalgic for me. Fun read that definitely lived up to its name! I listened on audio and liked the narrator which for me can make or break an audio book so that was a plus.
*Thank you to the author for a chance to listen to this in exchange for my honest review*
*Thank you to the author for a chance to listen to this in exchange for my honest review*
August 24, 2024
I absolutely loved this book, and what a cool surprise to see the author is from my area! If you love the 80s slasher films and aren't afraid of gore, then you will love this one! The author did an excellent job of character development, atmosphere and pacing with this book as well. Five stars!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews