Under the Hellbound Sun

by J.R. Curtis

Colonel Edward Pierce of the Confederate Army has gone rogue. He and the nearly five hundred men under his command have vanished into the West, pursuing a fabled ancient treasure and leaving only death and destruction in their wake.

Tasked with killing the deserter, Jess Shepherd and his two companions will weather the unforgiving trail in pursuit, encountering bandits, bounty hunters, and true evil.

A bleak tale of the callous indifference of the frontier, the unsettled West, and man.

406 pages, Hardcover

Published November 8, 2024

Reviews

[Caitlin Holt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Curtis provided an author’s note at the end providing some facts regarding the legendary treasure trove hidden by Montezuma. However, it is not the treasure seeker we follow, but Jess, a Civil War soldier tasked with finding Pierce, deserter and treasure seeker who will do anything to find it.
I, myself, wouldn’t classify this as horror, but a historical fiction with lots of horrifying events. And horrify me they did. Like, why’d you gotta do the mule like that?
Lots of things worked well for me while some didn’t. Overall, I really liked Curtis’s writing. The relationship between Jess and his friends at the beginning was especially endearing. On the other hand, Curtis utilizes a lot of time markers, though they didn’t really help me visualize passage of time and feel the inevitable suffering one would face during said passages of time trekking across the U.S.
I feel like all of the characters and events Jess faces were just conduits of horror and suffering and all of the other characters’ plights were all for naught. (And maybe that doesn’t make much sense unless you’ve read it, but just go with it). I wasn’t sure how to feel about that while I was reading, but as I sit and think on it, I think it makes Jess’s arc that much more horrifying.
If you’re into history, treasure seeking, or being parched in the desert, this one’s for you!

[Jen Ramsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really three stories in one; a treasure hunt, a tale of war and desertion, and the desperate desire for survival against all the odds. J.R Curtis has a wonderful way with descriptions that really pull you in to the tale and makes you live the moments. Full of harrowing moments, but you're still hoping against the odds for a good outcome. I shall be reading more of his works.

[Alison Faichney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first read by Curtis, and he goes HARD in this story. Curtis is both swift and savage in this horror-ish historical fiction and has zero qualms about killing off any character you’ve grown fond of. I’ll preface this by saying I’m *not* a Civil War buff and historical fiction in general is a bit murky for me. I think Curtis does a fantastic job at making this story both intriguing and accessible.

In Under the Hellbound Sun we follow Jess, a confederate soldier, when he is ordered to track and eliminate his former commander, Colonel Pierce. Pierce and around 500 of his men have gone rogue in a desperate search for rumored buried treasure out West and are blazing (in all senses of the word) their way through anything in their path. Col. Pierce is about as terrible of a human antagonist as they come. I’d put him up there with Big Jim Rennie from Under the Dome in terms of awfulness.

We’re also treated to an additional storyline that eventually intersects with the main plot. I will say that at the conclusion of said subplot I did wonder if it meshed well with the story. I assumed maybe there was a sequel or series planned but don’t think that’s the case after finishing the books, so it felt a bit extraneous. It was a really intriguing storyline and one I found myself invested in, just not sure if it enhanced the story.

This book has some heavy gore and please check tw if sensitive to animal harm or SA. Most of the gruesome stuff is off scene, but may still be an issue for some readers.

Under the Hellbound Sun is a slow burn but it’s one I found difficult to put down. There are a bunch of time jumps in the story for progression, but I do wish there had been some more detail added to overall desert life. The characters were solid and didn’t fit into stereotypes. I enjoyed Jess, Matty, Richard and Maria. I felt the dialogue was well done and rang true. I’d definitely be happy to read more work from J.R. Curtis moving forward. It’s surprised me how much I’ve enjoyed some of these horror westerns, but the conjunction of horror in an already difficult time makes for a really interesting story.

[Catriona Mowat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under the Hellbound Sun follows Jess Shepherd and his 2 deputies as they cross the desert, chasing a Confederate army colonel who has taken his men west to search for treasure. Charged with killing Colonel Pierce for desertion, Jess and his men must come up against true horrors as they chase a ghost.
Under the Hellbound Sun is a slow burn novel, and I do mean that literally. There is a lot of time in the desert on these pages, and you can practically feel the heat. Part psychological thriller, part survival horror, this novel will make you uncomfortable. Set against the American frontier and featuring a cast of nothing but Confederate soldiers, there is a definite trigger warning for racist language. It is not an easy read when it comes to the racist elements, but it is a crucial part of the world building and the character development, which are truly stunning.
Some shock moments threw me, and the slow build of suspense as supplies run low and the sun burns hotter than hell is brilliantly done.
The climax is packed in to the last 20 pages and could have been made bigger and better to make more of an impact (it is over too quickly), but it keeps you gripped to the bitter end (maybe bittersweet?). Overall, this is a slower novel: if you are looking for gore on every page this is not it. But if you are looking for a well-told story of survival in the American South, a story about treasure hunters, revenge, or just a story about the bond between a man and his horse (no, not like that, don’t make this weird) then I would definitely recommend this book.

[J_Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book of Curtis' I've read, and just like the other two, it did not disappoint. I went in blind again, knowing little more than "it's a western". Having read "Bloodletting", I was excited for another time period piece by the author.

As with his other books, this story is not predictable in the least. You are immediately brought deep into the minds and hearts of the characters, fueling you to read "just one more page". I did, however, find myself halfway through the book thinking, where is the horror? No ancient gods seeking death and destruction, no cursed ghost towns ready to inflict revenge on whoever happens to pass through, no ancient aliens patiently waiting under the desert to take over the Earth... and yet, in the truest sense, it is horrific. Men and nature killing in the most brutal of ways, simply because they are men and it is nature.

I cannot tell you the best and simultaneously worst parts of the book without spoiling, but you may find yourself pausing, asking yourself if you just read that last page correctly, and rereading just to verify that it did in fact happen.

After a time span of what must be months, it all comes to an end very quickly, but I don't think any other ending would have served the story justice.

[Desiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I loveeeed it!

This was an ADVENTURE. For my brain and my heart. 😂

This isn't my usual genre. I am a fantasy and romance reader 98% of the time, but this book has definitely sparked a new interest for Westerns.

You'll enjoy this read if you're a fan of Westerns, horror, historical fiction, and/or thrillers!

This book had:
✨️Fabled treasures
✨️Betrayal
✨️Death
✨️Revenge
✨️Multiple storylines

My heart absolutely BROKE for a couple of these characters throughout the book. I wasn't expecting quite a bit of what happened, and after reading 100 very predictable romances back to back, it was so refreshing!

Some parts got a little brutal, but I was expecting it, having read J.R.'s previous books lol
It wasn't anything overly traumatizing, it's just a wee bit gory (to me) at times, so keep that in mind going in!😂

Overall, recommend x1000! I'd love to see this as a movie!

*If you're a bookstagrammer or vlogger and decide to read this book, pleaseee film yourself while reading and post your reactions for the world to see because I wish I had. I just know my face went through a JOURNEY.😂

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under the Hellbound Sun, by J.R. Curtis, is a dark tale set in the days of the Civil War. Tasked by General Lee to track down and kill Edward Pierce, a colonel with his own agenda, Jess Shepard sets out across the south with two companions to fulfill his orders. Shepard, who once served under Pierce, knows all too well the cruelty and depravity in the black heart of the colonel. For Pierce is determined to find a treasure of legend, and nothing will stop him as he and his men slaughter their way ever westward. Plagued with dangers from both his fellow man and the harshness of the environment, Shepard fights to pick up the trail, while meanwhile, a woman named Maria is warned by her grandfather that if he should fail, she must never let the secret items he is protecting fall into the wrong hands.

This book is as bleak as they come, with a burn that creeps up on you like the raging sun, and an ending that couldn’t have happened any other way.

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the few historical/western type fictions you won't typically catch me reading.

I just don't tend to reach out for those type of books, but this is actually really good.

This is an absolute slow burn, so before diving in be ready, there's world and character building goin on in them there desert's and it absolutely needs to happen.

The ending, was worth the burn, trust me when i say this, WORTH it.

This starts out with Jess and his small crew tracking down a Colonel and his 500, ( FIVE HUNDRED??) soldiers who are off to find some buried treasure. Can you blame them ?

Jess isn't just facing the evils of man and greed, but also the elements themselves and that doesn't just mean the supernatural but the harsh reality of the desert and living the life of one of the "Good Guys" in a lawless land, where only the quick and the stubborn survive.

[Indieterror13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

JR Curtis was kind and offered me an arc of his new book Under the Hellbound Sun. Taking place in 1683, Jess finds himself on a manhunt in accordance with his orders from General Lee.
Until I read Bloodletting by Curtis, I didn't even know I liked western horror. But let me tell you, it's pretty good stuff.
I liked the overall storyline on this one. As usual I feel it wrapped up too quickly, but sometimes that's how the story has to end. There's one character I won't tell you much about (because I don't want to spoil anything) that I really didn't see their part going that way and wish it would have been different and had more involvement.
Overall I would say 3.75 stars rounded up to 4. If you like western horror, you'll enjoy this one.
☠️☠️☠️☠️

[Joy K · Rating 4 out of 5]

J.R. Curtis has a fantastic, gruesome talent for storytelling that grabs hold of you whether you want it to or not. I am always excited to read his work. The horrible yet compelling pictures that he paints with words are a gift to horror genre lovers everywhere.

This story of Civil War soldiers, murder, treasure hunting, and survival was such an interesting combination of historical fiction and horror. I typically prefer reading horror about monsters, witches, and the paranormal, but this was a welcome change of pace.

I recommend Curtis's books to any fan of horror. He writes something for everyone and has an incredibly unique style.

[Taylor Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hooks you from the start. It’s a ruthless tale of destiny and defeat. An essential read for fans of classic westerns and modern thrillers.