We Burn Our Dead

by Ted Laughton

On a rain-lashed cliff above a black and restless sea, a band of killers pauses between battles.
By morning, one of them is dead.

They are a mercenary brotherhood bound by bloodshed and the iron will of their leader, Sturmund. Among them stands a woman hardened by the same bitter wars. They have all walked the warrior’s path too long to abandon it.

Until the forest.
Until the Beast.

In the deep woods beyond their camp moves something vast and patient—an ancient horror bound to its killing ground and driven mad by the passing years. It does not forgive trespass.

What begins as pursuit becomes reckoning. With each clash, more than flesh is torn away—conviction frays, pride splinters, and the discipline holding the company together begins to rot.

As grief twists into obsession, the line between warrior and monster blurs.
The forest will test what their violence is worth.

We Burn Our Dead is an unflinching, mythic dark fantasy about violent legacy, fading legend, and the terrible beauty of standing your ground in a merciless world.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Fiction

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2025

About the author

Ted Laughton was born in Boston and taught literature for many years. He is the author of the fantasy-horror novel, We Burn Our Dead, as well as two collections of short stories.

Reviews

[Haly Hoards Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆
This is a story about brotherhood, belonging, standing united and fighting the good fight. It is also about how relationships, even those of brothers, have moments of disagreement and cutthroat fighting.

The band of mercenaries is led by Sturmund, a natural leader and swordsman extraordinaire. He is followed by men, and one woman, who have answered his question, "Do you want to join us?" The answer is always "yes," and usually given as a means of escaping some dire situation. However, Sturmund has looked into the eyes of each member and noticed a special gleam, that of the warrior.

As the narrative progresses we learn the history of each warrior, and we also receive the story of how each came to cast his lot with the group. Each characters story is a look into what motivates him to act as he does.

Sturmund's band of warriors encounter a beast in a forest that has not been fully mapped. It is in the quest to vanquish the beast that each character demonstrates his mettle. And, it is the fight with the beast that the love and respect between this band of warriors shines through.

I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my opinions of this novel. Thank you to the author, publisher and Goodreads for this opportunity.

[Kaisersoze · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounding this one up from 2.5 stars purely because the writing is incredibly poetic and impressively crafted. The characterisations are also, for the most part, impressively rendered within the pages of such a short novel.

But this literary style of writing is not what I look for when I read grimdark fantasy and We Burn Our Dead is almost impossible to follow when the characters come up against the main antagonist.

In between said battle, the back stories of how the various characters come to be part of the troop are told. Which is a good device to vary things up, but Laughton, for some reason, writes each of the flashback scenes in a completely different style, drawing undue attention to his writing choices rather than allowing the story to envelop the reader.

The ending, furthermore, left me very cold - though to say why would be a spoiler. Instead, let me sum up with the following: if you like more literary works in the fantasy genre, pick this one up as soon as possible. If you don't, you can probably pass on adding this to your TBR pile.

2.5 Companions Gathered for We Burn Our Dead.

[Samantha✨ [reads everythinggggg] · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5⭐️ I received We Burn Our Dead by Ted Laughton through a Goodreads giveaway. This is the second book I’ve read by him, so I was pretty excited to dive into it — thank you!

I really enjoyed this tale, and I say tale because it reminded me of a spooky, scary fairytale. A group of found-family warriors hunting down a monster in the woods? Sign me up!

The imagery and descriptive language were amazing. The way the author described the beast made me picture the scariest thing imaginable, and I absolutely loved it.

This is the second book I’ve read by Ted Laughton, and I have to say — his use of language, his poetic style, and the rhythm of his writing are pretty incredible.

The only thing I’d change about this book would be the timing of the characters’ backstories. I wish I had gotten to know them a bit earlier, before their big moments in the story. I found myself a little confused a couple of times, though that might just be my personal preference.

…”if a man can breath…”

[Kaitlyn Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

*I won this in a good reads giveaway*

I got to chapter 11 and couldn’t read it anymore. I had no clue what was going on and I just stopped

[Julie T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed Feelings

I liked the story and the prose. The editing well done. I do feel that we kinda walk into the story blind, which is what you do in every story so I don’t know if blind is the correct word. More like in confusion, expecting one story and getting another, maybe. I enjoyed the characters and felt like I got to know them backwards and therefore didn’t care as much about them as perhaps I would have if the storyline was reversed. I wanted more explanation as to why they were the way they were and maybe that was what the author intended. To think about the characters long after the book was read? The flow between the chapters were somewhat perplexing as I felt tossed back and forth, until the last chapters. All in all, the story of chosen family was there, loyalty, love and desperation of the human condition. I would recommend.

[Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not for me.
The writing was not bad, at times it was too flowery which took away from the horror aspect imo. And chapters do jump between the past and present as well as point of views, which got a little confusing.
The book is very character driven, and since i didn’t really care for them it was hard to get into the story.

This book was won in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Rachel]

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.

I DNFd around 25%. I couldn't get over the fact that one of the main characters' name was Bitch, and none of the characters seemed especially likeable. I may return to this book later, I'm just really not feeling it right now at all.

[Alison Faichney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark little medieval (I think? There is very little setting reference for time and geography, tbh) horror. We Burn Our Dead follows a group of warriors when they encounter a vicious beast deep in the forest. This isn’t the easiest read. Laughton’s prose is fairly dense and requires concentration in the way literary-leaning books do. The reader is dropped right into the middle of everything and Laughton leaves off most of the history until the last third, which might frustrate some readers. The imagery is vivid and horrific and definitely will scratch that fantastical horror itch. The characterization is excellent but Laughton leaves the reader scraps to build upon with each character. The story eventually gives the origin of the remaining warriors but the reader is forced to forge the dynamics that exists within our band of fighters. We Burn Our Dead may be a struggle to readers who prefer more linear, consistent storytelling. There’s a fair bit of ambiguity which I know doesn’t work for every reader.

I really vibed with the story but absolutely admit there were times I’d have to re-read paragraphs (or pages…maybe chapters sometimes) to ensure I’d absorbed the action. To be fair, when I started reading Stephen King it took me time to get into his rhythm but if the reader puts work into learning Laughton’s storytelling then they’ll be rewarded with a very dark tale of brotherhood (/sister). I appreciated the cosmic nature of the Beast and how time is subjective and becomes so insignificant the longer a being exists. And the allusion that even though we may think we’ve reached the pinnacle of existence as sentient humans, there could easily be something that sees us as inconsequential as we do smaller beings (bug, germs etc etc). Not an easy beach read, but worth it if you prefer more literary horror.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wonthis book in a goodreds drawing.

Something like an updated Robert E. Howard, as a company of sellswords find something Lovecraftian in the dark woods. I actually enjoyed it a lot for the neopulp it is.

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off I want to thank the author for giving me this book in a giveaway. I did not know what to expect and this was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed the humor as it got me giggling a bit. I can see the similarities between Joe Abercrombie and Laughton. I also really like how there were topics of rape but it never went into detail or made us be there. The story building is what sold me I loved slowly learning about the characters and how they became a family. It was a bit poetic and I am so glad I was able to pick it up. There were some parts I was a little confused and lost especially near the end and that is why I do wish it was a bit longer.

[maize · Rating 4 out of 5]

probably a 3.5 but i’m feeling generous so.. 4 stars it is

this was good! getting the basics out of the way, this is what this book ticks off on my medieval-ish-fantasy-horror book of my dreams checklist:
long journey (*incorrect buzzer*)
group of weird horrible people, probably all dying one by one (DING!)
not irl historical setting (DING!)
scary (*incorrect buzzer*)
long (*incorrect buzzer*)

this book definitely got the general vibe down, but i’d be lying if i said i liked this more than pilgrim or mountain fast or hollow. i would’ve loved for this to be way longer, since i feel like we got such small glimpses of all the characters and i wanted to know More. I also feel like the last 1/3 of this book had way more going on than the beginning and middle, like we just took way too long getting to the actual confrontations with the beast.

i think one of my biggest gripes is that the descriptions in this book really make you do all of the heavy lifting. still cannot tell you one thing about ghost’s looks other than that he’s really really pale and has violet eyes. i don’t even know if that guy has hair.

that’s mostly all i got. it was a fine but but also i’ll probably never think abt it again after this review.

ps. it stuns me how many of the bad reviews of this book r calling this confusing?? yeah the language is a bit flowery and maybe pretentious but like?? it’s a very straightforward story. there’s a big fucking thing in the woods. the flashback chapters are clearly different from the main story bc they have different titles to the normal numbered chapters and if you just. read them. you can easily tell ur in the past seeing how each member was brought into the group. like i can’t stress enough how unconfusing that is. anyway lol.

[Jarrod Slatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first "horror" I've read in a while, and my god was it good.


A story on brotherhood, camaraderie, personal honor, choosing your own path, and how people from different walks of life face primordial fears. The prose was a delight and almost felt like I was reading poetry rather than a novel. I found the language used throughout often had my hair standing on end, and having a character-driven plot was a really nice change of pace. Whilst the story itself is relatively short, you feel like you learn the depths of each of the characters well, and you're not left wondering about any detail of the world.


It's short, it's beautiful, and it makes you think about your own life and walk. This will likely be a lifelong recommendation for anyone looking to dabble in the genre.

[Maranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giving this a 3.75.

Things I liked:
•The prose
•The beast
•The subtle world building

Things I disliked:
•Didn't really gaf about the characters, I was more fascinated with the beast
•On occasion the prose was slippery and vague
•I dislike the open endedness. I like to imagine the beast won because that thing is hella cool and OP asf

[Brooke Crist · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this as a giveaway, but unfortunately this is not for me!

I made it to 56% and I just have no idea what is going on. I will be DNFing.

The characters are interesting, I was invested in the horror parts, but the jumping around lost me.

[Michelle Kimber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a story out of my comfort zone. The characters were unlikable and the tension was too high for me. I went along for the ride and this was indeed an interesting tale to be sure. It was entertaining.

[Anya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t quite understand what was happening at first; my main issue with this book was being thrown back and forth between the past and present without any warning or transition. That said, I think he did an excellent job with *when* he threw us back into the past to give more backstory. Once I got a handle on that, I really enjoyed this read. It was very well written, and his descriptions were so poetic. I also liked how he wrapped up this story.

[Christie Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been waiting for spooky time to start this read and I'm so glad it was my first book of the season. It took a moment to settle into the purple prose, but it paid off. At first starting with seven characters was difficult to differentiate, but halfway through the first short story and things started clicking for me. I think other readers will have an easier time, I was coming off of a book that fairly spoon-fed information so wasn't in the optimal headspace the first few chapters.

Ted Laughton used writing techniques that I found fascinating. Flashbacks are a storytelling staple, but these short stories that intersected the main narrative explaining how the crew was slowly assembled were masterfully done. In the first few chapters I was worried Laughton started the story too far ahead, but after the first short story my apprehensions were proven false.

There were two characters that didn't feel as fleshed out as the others. One was simply a quiet giant who's short story seemed to give characterization to a different character and the other is the fearless leader. The Captain knew who he was at a young age and didn't get as much character development because of that. He knew who he was and it served him well throughout his life leaving no regrets. There was nothing to develop beyond his relationships with his crew. That unquestionable integrity is the core his company formed around, being the anchor to their chaos.

[Veronica Petrof · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to goodreads and the author for a copy of this book.

3✨

This is a semi-quick and interesting story about a group of warriors fighting to the bitter end.

My issues lie with the naming of the only female character, Bitch, horrible name. And some of the prose, while beautiful, could be a little too much and slightly confusing for what was trying to be said.

[thatsnotadragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won’t say We Burn Our Dead is my favorite book, but it is certainly excellently crafted, especially the writing style and the message of really taking your life into your own hands. It’s so different from most if not all of the fantasy books I’ve read recently; it’s like a breath of fresh air. The characterizations are pretty good, for the most part. It’s unclear exactly where or when the story takes place, though certainly in some medieval-related period or earlier, but those details aren’t the most important since it’s primarily a character-driven story and is set almost exclusively in the forest. (Through various details we can probably deduce that it’s medieval Europe or medieval Europe-adjacent; Sturmund is most assuredly Norse, and Hull is likely a Scotsman.) Nevertheless, it’s certainly worth the read.

We Burn Our Dead is a dark fantasy horror following a group of seven comrades after a miserable raid on a village: Captain Sturmund, Lieutenant Marney, Hull, Culp, Patch, Ghost, and Bitch**. They make camp for the night after slogging to the top of a hill, where lies the ocean over a cliff on one side and a deep forest on the other. When two of the men enter the forest to gather provisions for the evening, they find much more than they bargained for in the form of an ancient beast.

**A side note on Bitch’s name: If you’re like me, you were also shocked to read that the only woman in the company is named “Bitch.” No one except Sturmund and Marney are using their given names, and none of the other nicknames are unflattering—or, I should say, they aren’t gendered like hers is. However, Laughton makes it clear that “Bitch” is a reclamation:

Many years back, when she had first come to Sturmund and his men, seeking them out where they roved, she had presented herself by the same title and had worn it proudly ever after. She said she had been called such as long as she could recall, first by her father and countless men thereafter. It had never bothered her. After all, had she not put those same men beneath the ground, filled their mouths with dirt and their guts with steel?

So, indeed, Bitch is taking the name for herself.

Laughton’s writing is incredible in a way I’ve read in few other books. His imagery and descriptions are so invocative; it’s like the scenes come to life on each and every page. It’s the type of writing, though, that you have to give all your attention to; you can’t just skim the pages and expect to fully understand what’s happening. I did have to reread a few paragraphs as I went, especially in the beginning before I’d adjusted to Laughton’s style. However, once I caught on, I was fully immersed. I did struggle with a few of the fight scenes, but it was still very enjoyable.

Here are a few examples of how beautiful Laughton’s writing is:

But even the sturdiest must some time set down weighty arms, if only to remind himself how hollow the ache of a hand without a hilt.

They were a storied lot, Sturmund’s men, but the story was old and dim, tarnished with disuse, rusty from neglect, and that was the greatest dishonor of all—when to be forgotten was no different than never having lived.

The clouds opened then and began to piss on Hull as if they had been waiting all evening for the right moment.

I especially enjoyed the chapter featuring Patch’s background and induction into the company. The entire chapter is written exclusively through dialogue, though without any indication of who is speaking. But because Laughton does such an excellent job giving unique voices to each of his characters, it’s easy to determine who’s speaking. The chapter flows so smoothly, and it was very entertaining to get the context of what’s happening just through conversation. Quite masterful writing.

My only gripe with the writing is that it’s omniscient—the perspective changes from character to character between paragraphs. This can make it hard to follow sometimes, because you may be reading about, say, Patch, and the next paragraph is discussing how Hull feels about something. This doesn’t necessarily hurt the story—it’s just not my favorite method of perspective.

Something else I enjoyed about the writing is the shock of the first death. I didn’t know anything about the book going into it—I’d won a digital copy from a Goodreads giveaway—so I didn’t expect a complete TPK, let alone the bluntness of the first death. Hull and Ghost initially go into the forest to hunt game for the party’s dinner, unknowing the danger that lies within. The beast catches them unawares, and the two warriors are injured, though one vastly more than the other. Through either their own willpower or intervention by Patch and Bitch, they both make it back to camp. Ghost has a massive and deep gash either on his torso or abdomen, and I believe Hull has only had his back broken; the latter is otherwise fine. Marney spends the whole remaining night trying to patch up Ghost and keep him alive. You would think, due to the severity of his wounds, the high risk of infection, and the patchwork field treatment he received, he’d be the one to die. Instead, we’re hit at the beginning of the next chapter with:

In the morning, the rain had stopped, and Hull had died.

What do you mean? Hull is this giant of a man, a strong warrior who complains when he doesn’t get to fight. How could he have died and Ghost lived? It’s such a shocking moment, at least in my opinion, because Laughton so thoroughly subverted my expectations.

There are only two issues of note. One is that, though the characters are given unique voices each, they’re not all wholly developed. You do get a sense of who the majority of them are, especially for how short the book is (about 260 pages), but I think Culp gets a little left out to dry. I don’t think we get much from his perspective throughout the whole book, so we don’t know much about him. The rest of them are extremely well-written, though. There also isn’t much description by way of the characters’ appearances. We get a handful of descriptors for some of them, but that’s it.

The other is that the ending is a little confusing. That was likely Laughton’s intent, that whether the beast lived or died was meant to be ambiguous due to the nature of it being a story told in a tavern, but I can’t be sure. Nevertheless, we know the remaining four comrades go over the cliff’s edge and die in the water below:

With one last charge, the beast decided its fate. The warriors, balancing on their heels against the last spot of ground before the fall, did not tremble, no single trace of fear or regret featured anywhere on their haughty brows. The same could not be said for the beast, which, when it came, succeeded only in launching the four warriors off the cliff and into legend.

Given the way that paragraph is written, mentioning the beast deciding its fate, it almost seems like it, too, goes over the edge. But Culp, before he passes and looking from the water below, believes he sees Sturmund—or Sturmund’s ghost—fighting the beast still on the clifftop. Perhaps this is a little flair Strange Bob, who is telling the tale at the tavern, gives the story to make it more legendary. Or maybe the beast never fell, seeing as how it’s never mentioned as floating in the water with the others. We may never know what is real and what isn’t. There isn’t any harm in ambiguity, I suppose, so I can’t fully fault Laughton on this. It’s just that this scene, as well as the final chapter featuring Strange Bob and Sinner at the tavern, make it all a little confusing.

All in all, I would definitely recommend reading We Burn Our Dead.

My official rating: ★★★.5

[Kelly Brewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well now, this here book We Burn Our Dead by Ted Laughton gone and gave my brain a headache and a half, but in a good kinda way, like tryin to put on a shirt while fallin down the stairs. I ain’t kiddin, yall. Theres so many dang characters and they all hollerin and slicin and drinkin and fightin, and it dont never let up. Its like a big stew of names and backstories and blood, and I swear I got all twisted up in the middle of it like I took a wrong turn in my own head and ended up somewhere I aint never been before. But then somehow I come back round and got found again sorta maybe.

The story kicks off with these mercenary fellers, all hard and mean and tired, like they seen too much and just keep marchin on, cause what else they gonna do. The main one, Sturmund, he just want a good death. Like, thats all he lookin for, a decent fight and to die doin it. Which aint what I usually read, but it got me thinkin deep, like maybe thats the only peace he thinks he gonna get. And them other fellers with him, they all got their own messes and reasons for stickin round. Some of em just want food or gold or to forget whatever broke em, and lemme tell ya, they all broke.

The book bounces all over, from fancy castles to ratty bars to spooky woods and boats to creepy ruins and more woods and even more woods, and I swear I was holdin my breath half the time not knowin what was waitin in the trees. Cause theres this Beast thing, right. And it aint just some regular monster, no sir. Its like old and angry and wakes up when it hears em breathin, and once it shows up it aint playin around no more.

Aint just about swingin swords though. Its about what kinda man you is when somethin awful stares you down, and if all that fightin and runnin and bleedin ever made a lick of sense in the first place. And can you still be saved, even if you already gave up on it.

I aint gonna lie, parts of it got me all turned round, like I was tryin to read a dream somebody else had in a thunderstorm with a busted flashlight. But once I got the rhythm of it, it sucked me in deep, like a story sung low and mean over a fire by someone who seen too much and forgot how to smile.

I give it 4 outta 5 catfish!

[Enid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was taken places I've never been.

I won this book through Goodreads. I usually read fast-paced thrillers, so it took me some time to get into this story, but it was a fun time. If you are into fantasy, war, and warriors, this one's for you. I did actually enjoy it.

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm going to start with what I liked about this book:

The imagery and characters are amazing and the plot is solid.
The scenes are action packed and suspenseful.

Things that could be improved on:

Although the present and flashbacks are written using different writing styles, the transitions between them are non-existent. This makes the story very hard to follow.
It's too wordy, drawing the readers attention away from the storyline.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel and will read more from this author in the future.

Thank You Ted Laughton and Goodreads for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeff Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the characters. So well written and real to the reader. The back story and flashbacks were greatly interesting and entertaining. The actual story did not appeal to me quite so much. The concept was interesting, I just didn't enjoy it near as much as I hoped I would. I would love to see these characters again. Most of them would be able to support a novel of their own. I cannot express strongly enough how much I love the characters. It would be a shame if this were the only time we get to meet them.

[Mauve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Goodreads and the author for the giveaway kindle copy.
3.5 stars rounded down because the .5 is subjective.

This was a refreshing read, though it may not be up to my usual tastes. The characters all felt unique and had their own important role throughout the story. The writing style was different than what I'm accustomed to, but not unlikeable, though at times the structure of sentences felt repetitive at times. The pacing of the plot is good, with some minor hiccups here and there. Overall, I enjoyed reading this novel.

The only chapter I really disliked was near the end, titled 'Blind Eye' if I'm recalling correctly (not all chapters have a title, only a few). My issue with this chapter was that it was written completely differently than the rest of the novel, being only dialogue with no indicators as to who is speaking. I'm unsure if this was purposeful or if it was an older file uploaded accidentally. If it was purposeful I think that chapter in particular may need a rewrite.

As for the other chapters I think for the most part everything was fine, give or take some possible chapter rearrangement. The last chapter I think is the one that needs it most; despite it taking place after the main story, I think it may have done better as an opening rather than a closing. There is another chapter, the shortest there was actually, a mere few sentences, that I think would have been excellent as a last chapter. My biggest gripe when it comes to the chapters is that I wish there was just one more chapter detailing what a certain character believed he was witnessing near the end, during the climax.

The characters, even being terrible people within context, were enjoyable to read about and get to know. Yes, even Patch, who is a slick-tongued scoundrel that definitely deserves much of the ire from his comrades. Seriously, he's a little shit, but I still ended up liking him in the end.

The character I think most people may find problems with is the only woman in the group. Why? Not because she is a woman, or that she is an intolerable character, much the opposite. It's because her name is Bitch. At first I was put off by this myself, but the more I read, and the more I got to know her character, the more I respected her and her name. It is self given, and boy does she prove it in the best ways. I found that the way it was handled was respectful, and it felt more like the character reclaimed it herself, and not the author prescribing it as a catch-all for women. She is, by far, my favorite character in this novel. I would urge other readers to push past any initial discomfort and give it a chance.

A finally the monster. It was interesting, but I must admit gave me the most trouble. The descriptions, while consistent in style, were also frequently changing the appearance. Hoofs, but not actually. Paws, but not actually. Has no flesh, yet has corded muscle. Towers over forest trees, but can still be easily be gutted while standing, if it had any guts that is. This was my biggest issue through the novel, but I powered through it anyway, ultimately making the decision that for me it simply was a being that couldn't be described accurately by characters due to the immense fear it caused on sight that it was near sanity-breaking. Though I would like to say that these descriptive instances are infrequent and do not make up a significant portion of the writing, this may be the make-or-break for some readers, and I wouldn't fault anyone for that.

I do recommend this novel, but understand that it is not for everyone.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to Goodreads for an advance copy of this grim fantasy story about professional killers, the darkness the carry and a darkness that pursues them.

I read fantasy quite a lot when I was a child, drawn to stories about good people standing up for things, traveling for answers, of creatures both wonderful and epic in scope and style. I went away for a while, to much sameness, but maybe it was too much light. The worlds I were reading about seemed too good, too unreal, not when I was looking at the world I lived in, one that seemed to be dark, bitter, mean and evil. And this was before the last few elections. Fantasy is always about the world we would like, and the world that we see. Tolkein drew on the Great War for his tales of Hobbits and fellowship, knowing what unites people most is adversity and discomfort. And killing. However there is always something stronger, something meaner. And in this story something older, one this group of soldiers might not survive. We Burn Our Dead Ted Laughton, is a mix of fantasy horror, and war novel, about a group of men, an area of woods, and a primal rage stronger than anything these soldiers have ever seen.

The sea blocks a group of warriors, more butchers rather than fighters on one side, with a dark forest on the other. The travel from their last battle, a particularly dark affair, and travel to met their next one. Sturmund is their leader, one who has seen much, and is feeling his age and the weight of killing, wondering how much he will see more of. They camp and set out hunters, who return with strange words about the woods they find themselves in. Soon they are reduced in number, something is out watching them, waiting them out with a patience borne of long life and a feeling of revenge. For this is their woods, and they take trespass very seriously.

A book that is very literary and poetic, but a dark piece of work nonetheless. The reader is dropped in the story, one doesn't know the reason for battles, what these warriors are fighting or running for, until later. Laughton unfolds the past carefully, sharing slowly, while keeping the suspense tight, and the fear that the characters feel, the confusion, lack of trust, even doubts about how they are is well done. The story might be familiar, but the writing is really what sets it above most of the the books in thes class of fantasy. A dark novel, but one that holds and makes one wonder what is next.

[Sunshine · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Burn Our Dead by Ted Laughton is a gripping novel that pulls the reader into a world where death is not only mourned but ritualized in powerful and disturbing ways. The book centers on a young character caught in a tradition of burning the dead to keep their spirits from haunting the living. The author has a skill for describing the emotional and physical toll these rituals take, making the reader feel the weight of the customs in a personal way. The narrative is rich with emotion and moral complexity, especially as the main character questions whether these customs are worth the cost. The world-building is vivid and immersive which helps set the stage for the difficult themes explored throughout the book.


What makes We Burn Our Dead worthy of a four-star rating is its ability to balance tension and reflection. While the plot is heavy with symbolism and grief it is not overbearing. The characters feel real and relatable even if their world seems foreign. The pacing is well done with each chapter building on the last and the suspense never feels forced. However the book falls short in its conclusion which could have been more developed. The ending offers resolution but feels somewhat abrupt compared to the careful buildup. Despite this the emotional depth and moral questions the novel raises leave a lasting impression making it an overall solid read.

[Jill Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and felt compelled to leave a review. This can superficially be recapped as: band of mercenaries with a warrior code versus demon beast. But, thankfully, there is more to the story.

“How were the warriors to know that the wild cackle that rent the evening black was decidedly of the earth, and held a greater claim to it than any tongue of man, for that savage din hailed from an earth long since vanished, from before the skies first broke blue or the tides ever thought to set their own course. It was a sound from the newborn earth, the vanished earth, a time before language, when the only voice had been the beast’s, sovereign and absolute.”

It was the superb writing that saved me from tossing this book aside when the macho warrior code mantra became too much. (Male readers in search of their own warrior code of ethics might find this more enjoyable than I did.) The structure of this book was problematic for me. There are flashback chapters inserted in the midst of the action that were initially annoying but gave context and background. The last chapters were a nice twist that gave an informed and satisfying ending and elevated it to a 4⭐️ read.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite the trip. Not the trip I was expecting but fun all the same. First off the scenes with the beast were action packed and gory pieces of chaotic awesomeness.



As we follow this band of warriors into uncharted lands to track down an ancient beast, it becomes clear that thus hunt is not the important part of the story. This hunt is just the latest adventure the warriors are facing. Instead it is the pursuit of the life of the warrior that is the focus. The creation of a band of like minded individuals who find the thrill in the fight and facing uncertain odds.

Although the first flashback is a little jarring as the authors writing style/tone changes when in the past. These snippets are amazing as we learn how the Captain forms the band and the history of how each member ended up joining. We also see the bonds of brotherhood forming amongst the band members. Due to these bonds the band willing faces down death together because it is their way of life, the path of the warrior.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thank you to Goodreads and the author for the opportunity to read 'We Burn Our Dead' through a Goodreads giveaway.

I greatly enjoyed this book. I had no real expectations going in and was pleasantly surprised. Laughton's prose is quite beautiful, easy to follow and provides excellent descriptions of both characters and scenery. Though the story is short, the author takes great care in creating vivid and unique characters that are easy to visual and connect with. The structure and telling of the story give the feel of an authentic age old tale, but in no way is it difficult to follow. It does not bog itself down in any details that are not essential to the story; every choice drives the story forward to its conclusion.

If anything I would have liked to spent a bit more time with these characters. I can imagine how interesting their earlier adventure might have been, once they were fully formed as the group we are introduced to in this novel.

I highly recommend this novel and look forward to reading more from this author.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I didn't really enjoy this all that much. And I am shocking myself by saying that this should have been a novella. I would have liked the flowery prose to be cut down, and the flashback chapters can go away (except for one, it gave me happy feels). I loved the characters as they were, just a band of misfits going after one more foe. I loved the core story and the way everyone interacted. Found, dysfunctional family at it's finest. I was SO BORED by all the flowery writing. It, for me, is so out of place in a horror novel. I couldn't take the horror of what was happening seriously, and that really diminished my enjoyment of the book.

If you like flowery writing, then this is definitely for you. I am so sad it wasn't for me. I do feel this is a case of, I am the problem, not the book. The parts I enjoyed, I really enjoyed. There was a one liner from Patch that had me cackling.

I won this in a giveaway, thank you to Goodreads and the author.