What do you think?
Rate this book
Ristenoff
Very few people have heard of the town of Blue Rock. Packed away off the highway and buried in the pine woods of South Arkansas, the town has been largely ignored by the rest of the world, until finally one spring when the world forces its way in.
Civil unrest and a global pandemic has fueled tension amongst the town’s residents. For Maddy Jeansonne, returning even in the face of these trials is still a reprieve from the rigors of college and the volatile big city. When she learns that her childhood friend Michael Risten has also returned, she believes she’s found an opportunity to reconnect.
But Michael has returned for a different reason. The curse that has plagued his family for generations threatens to come to light again, and Michael is desperate to rid himself of it once and for all. For buried deep within his soul is a beast desperate to get out. It’s waiting for the bright autumn moon to shine, and then it will take control, and no one will be safe. Not Maddy nor her brother, John Kelly. Not anyone in the town of Blue Rock. Not even Michael himself.
The curse dates back centuries, to when the family surname was Ristenoff. Perhaps, then that is the name of this beast, though it is also known by others. Rougarou, Loup Garou. Skinwalker. Lycanthrope. Werewolf. Hear the howl in the twilight and be prepared, for the wolf is at bay.
Civil unrest and a global pandemic has fueled tension amongst the town’s residents. For Maddy Jeansonne, returning even in the face of these trials is still a reprieve from the rigors of college and the volatile big city. When she learns that her childhood friend Michael Risten has also returned, she believes she’s found an opportunity to reconnect.
But Michael has returned for a different reason. The curse that has plagued his family for generations threatens to come to light again, and Michael is desperate to rid himself of it once and for all. For buried deep within his soul is a beast desperate to get out. It’s waiting for the bright autumn moon to shine, and then it will take control, and no one will be safe. Not Maddy nor her brother, John Kelly. Not anyone in the town of Blue Rock. Not even Michael himself.
The curse dates back centuries, to when the family surname was Ristenoff. Perhaps, then that is the name of this beast, though it is also known by others. Rougarou, Loup Garou. Skinwalker. Lycanthrope. Werewolf. Hear the howl in the twilight and be prepared, for the wolf is at bay.
- GenresHorror
411 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 5, 2025
18 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 27, 2025
A bit ambitious, the book never really came together.
A long list of characters who were incompletely introduced left me not grasping the relationships between each of them. I developed no visualization (in my mind) of most of the players.
It’s a pretty typical old-world cryptid hunter tale, but the story rather plods along. I kept hoping it would end soon.
Ristenhoff is not without its merits: I appreciated the seventh-son curse, the wide scale slaughter of the family, the ever-present racism of MAGA politics, the gypsy weaponization of the beast, and the beasts ability to communicate. But those merits hardly justify the time invested to discover them.
Cannot recommend.
A long list of characters who were incompletely introduced left me not grasping the relationships between each of them. I developed no visualization (in my mind) of most of the players.
It’s a pretty typical old-world cryptid hunter tale, but the story rather plods along. I kept hoping it would end soon.
Ristenhoff is not without its merits: I appreciated the seventh-son curse, the wide scale slaughter of the family, the ever-present racism of MAGA politics, the gypsy weaponization of the beast, and the beasts ability to communicate. But those merits hardly justify the time invested to discover them.
Cannot recommend.
June 16, 2025
A brutal and epic tale bringing the werewolf legend into a contemporary setting. Loved the sweeping cast of characters and the lore imagined here.
April 20, 2025
This was so reminiscent of the werewolf horror novels I reading as a teenager in the 90’s.
Loved that the author stuck to the traditional portrayal of a classic werewolf, nostalgic to vintage horror.
From the beginning I was rooting for Michael, knowing that his future looked grim but I couldn’t help but just want to protect him.
Praise to the author for not holding back who was the next bloody victim, though I can say I’m grateful he didn’t do Dart the dog dirty.
Loved that the author stuck to the traditional portrayal of a classic werewolf, nostalgic to vintage horror.
From the beginning I was rooting for Michael, knowing that his future looked grim but I couldn’t help but just want to protect him.
Praise to the author for not holding back who was the next bloody victim, though I can say I’m grateful he didn’t do Dart the dog dirty.
January 20, 2025
Jeremy Billingsley’s novel Ristenoff is an enthralling tale that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story begins ten years ago on a tragic Christmas Eve when a monstrous beast tore through the Risten household, leaving only young Michael as the sole survivor.
Now an adult, Michael continues to live in the same house, haunted by the memories of his family and the fear of the beast lurking within himself. Each autumn, as the bright moon rises, he dreads what might happen. When his childhood friend Madeline learns of his return to their hometown of Bluerock, she feels compelled to reconnect with him. While growing up, she has spent much time at the Risten home, she’s heartbroken over Michael’s tragic past and eager to be a source of comfort.
But Michael keeps his distance, afraid of what he might become. He chains himself every night, determined to protect those around him, knowing the beast within could emerge at any moment. In the quiet, eerie setting of Bluerock, the tension builds as Michael battles his inner darkness and the looming threat of another tragedy.
This gripping novel is a must-read for fans of werewolf lore and supernatural tales. With its striking cover and masterfully written narrative, Ristenoff is impossible to put down. Jeremy Billingsley has crafted a captivating and unforgettable story that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages until the very end.
Now an adult, Michael continues to live in the same house, haunted by the memories of his family and the fear of the beast lurking within himself. Each autumn, as the bright moon rises, he dreads what might happen. When his childhood friend Madeline learns of his return to their hometown of Bluerock, she feels compelled to reconnect with him. While growing up, she has spent much time at the Risten home, she’s heartbroken over Michael’s tragic past and eager to be a source of comfort.
But Michael keeps his distance, afraid of what he might become. He chains himself every night, determined to protect those around him, knowing the beast within could emerge at any moment. In the quiet, eerie setting of Bluerock, the tension builds as Michael battles his inner darkness and the looming threat of another tragedy.
This gripping novel is a must-read for fans of werewolf lore and supernatural tales. With its striking cover and masterfully written narrative, Ristenoff is impossible to put down. Jeremy Billingsley has crafted a captivating and unforgettable story that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages until the very end.
July 6, 2025
This book was a bit of a challenge to get through, to be honest.
It starts off strongly, drawing the reader in, promising an enticing supernatural tale. Then the book turns into an almost political manifesto, delving into the apparent social struggles in the US. Placing it during the Covid-era only ads an extra level of complexity. This takes up about half of the book and at times, I wondered whether I should just give, skip to the end or actually finish it.
The supernatural elements, the used lore and the transition of the second part of the book eventually kept me going.
The second half was better but still, the underlying sentiments and the racial elements, undoubtedly meant to add more depth to the story, only managed to be distracting. I found I couldn't sympathize with the characters, save a few.
Still, I wanted to know the conclusion of the story so I finished it eventually and although the writer is obviously talanted, I took me a bit of effort getting through.
It starts off strongly, drawing the reader in, promising an enticing supernatural tale. Then the book turns into an almost political manifesto, delving into the apparent social struggles in the US. Placing it during the Covid-era only ads an extra level of complexity. This takes up about half of the book and at times, I wondered whether I should just give, skip to the end or actually finish it.
The supernatural elements, the used lore and the transition of the second part of the book eventually kept me going.
The second half was better but still, the underlying sentiments and the racial elements, undoubtedly meant to add more depth to the story, only managed to be distracting. I found I couldn't sympathize with the characters, save a few.
Still, I wanted to know the conclusion of the story so I finished it eventually and although the writer is obviously talanted, I took me a bit of effort getting through.
August 16, 2025
What a fantastic, terrifying read!! I read it on my kindle late at night, with my lights off, well into the early morning. At times I'd hear a sound, look carefully to my side and thought, " great, this is what I get for reading a scary werewolf book this late, now I'm going to get torn apart by one "! It's funny what your imagination can conjure up ! I loved how the characters were drawn out, their history with one another and the towns history too. Towards the end it was amazing how it all unfolded , the bloodshed, the terror. I loved the ending, I had to read it a few times to make I didn't miss anything. I was wondering it has potential for a book 2 to keep the storyline going, it can go in a few directions. Do you think so too? Or is a done deal as it is, which is still heart stopping! Please respond on Facebook, Rose Marie Fernandez, if you don't mind. My email is: wicca.1208@yahoo.com . Thanks, already a loyal fan. Hee-hee 😉
March 12, 2025
One of those great stories you want to read over and over
Wow, just wow. This book is amazing. If you love all things werewolf, then you must read this one. The characters are so great, and I was quickly drawn into the story. This story follows a young man who was born into the werewolf virus from birth. It follows him through good times and very bad times. His town must fight as there is more than just one werewolf. I was totally taken in by this one. I will read it again. It's just that good.
Wow, just wow. This book is amazing. If you love all things werewolf, then you must read this one. The characters are so great, and I was quickly drawn into the story. This story follows a young man who was born into the werewolf virus from birth. It follows him through good times and very bad times. His town must fight as there is more than just one werewolf. I was totally taken in by this one. I will read it again. It's just that good.
June 20, 2025
Scary
This story was sad, a kid of 7 siblings is cursed 2 become a beast by a witch who is rejected by the kids dad. He kills his entire family and comes 2 the town where murders happen,a hunter has turned many
This story was sad, a kid of 7 siblings is cursed 2 become a beast by a witch who is rejected by the kids dad. He kills his entire family and comes 2 the town where murders happen,a hunter has turned many
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews