We Burn Our Dead

by Ted Laughton

They are a grim brotherhood—ruthless mercenaries. And they are being hunted.

Seven weary soldiers wander a medieval wasteland of forgotten wars, born for battle, lost without it. But when they encounter a pale beast by the sea, they mistake it for meaning itself—and their pursuit of it becomes a descent into annihilation.

Led by their haunted Captain, the company journeys into an ancient forest to confront what they fear most: death, futility, and their own savagery. What begins as a hunt becomes a pilgrimage for men who can no longer live in peace, and who must now seek redemption in bloodshed.

A dark fantasy tale of loyalties forged in sacrifice and honored in blood.

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…”

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Ginger X Human · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 We Burn Our Dead (Kindle Edition)
By Ted Laughton
Reviewed by: Ginger the Kitty 🐾
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 dramatic tail flicks

Hi, I’m Ginger — professional napper, plant assassin, and occasional book critic. My human won this book, so naturally I take credit for it. Big thanks to the author, Ted Laughton, and Goodreads for letting us read and win a copy!

Now, onto the story.

🐾 My Thoughts:
Dark. Gripping. Smelled faintly of despair and old ghosts — my favorite kind of read. We Burn Our Dead mixes mystery, small-town tension, and the heavy weight of grief into something sharp and unsettling. I curled up beside my human as she read, and even I stopped grooming to pay attention — that’s saying something.

The characters feel real and broken in that perfectly human way (poor creatures). The pacing kept me alert — tail twitching — and the ending hit like a cold draft under the door.

✨ What I Liked:

The atmosphere: heavy, eerie, and beautifully written.

The emotional depth: sorrow mixed with survival.

The prose: clean, powerful, no fluff (unlike me).

🙀 What Made Me Hiss:

A few slower moments where I almost wandered off to knock something off the counter.

I wanted just a bit more closure — but life, like catnip, rarely gives us enough.

📌 Final Verdict:
If you like dark literary fiction with emotional punch and haunted undertones, this one’s for you. It’s the kind of story that lingers — like fur on black clothes.

Thank you again to Ted Laughton and Goodreads for the chance to read this haunting, beautifully written book. I’ll be thinking about it long after my next nap.

– Ginger 🐾
Professional reader’s companion & occasional keyboard stepper

[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.

[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.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I want to thank the author for giving me this audible book as a promo, it goes beyond my expectations. It has been a while since I have read, or in this case listened, to a book that has immersed me in it to the point where I could almost feel it. The first two paragraphs pulled me in right out of the gate. He's descriptive and detailed, but not so much that you lose interest. As someone who spent most of her life on the type of beaches he described, I can honestly say that I felt as though I was once again there.

His writing style is absolutely beautiful, yet again something I haven't come across in a while. The pace of the story is on point and I love the introductions of the characters that take place throughout the book.

I'll definitely be reading his other books!

The is one I would consider book shelf worthy. A definite reread for me.

[Sam A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book in a Goodreads giveaway and probably would not have picked it as a book to buy. In all fairness to the author I'm not much into the fantasy category in my book choices. I found the beginning of the novel a bit confusing as to time and place of the story but my curiosity drove me to continue reading. The characters were interesting enough but I failed to see how this book fell into the horror category. Sure the battles were pretty gory and the "beast" was pretty horrific but being a beast that would be expected. Jumping back and forth from the past and present was a little awkward but did serve to give me a better understanding of the characters. The writing was good other than being a bit too poetic for what was supposed to be a horror novel.

[Allegra · Rating 5 out of 5]

We follow the tale of monster hunters, each of their stories coming to us in flashbacks. It's a story about meritocracy, about purpose and companionship, about life and the twisted paths it can lead people to. It's about how some are simply products of their environment, and also about how those most desperate ones often choose the most fiery roads because they have nothing else to lose.

Deep and lovely, a short but very enjoyable read.

The very flowery language eases up at about 25%, so it's worth sticking through it. Especially if you are after books with a lot of soul and understanding of the human nature

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Burn Our Dead is a novel about a band of swords-for-hire that finally meet their match.

The backstory is given through a series of flashbacks interspersed throughout the book. Laughton's narrative skill is impressively displayed in his ability to make the reader care about a group that would otherwise be that bad guys. It's not perfect, but it works really well. This novel really offers perspective into a group of people that would make the average person wonder why they'd choose that life.

I would give 4 1/2 stars if I could.

[JWo1855 · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Burn Our Dead had me transported to a time filled with kingdoms, warriors and beautiful scenery, sprinkled with an ass-kicking bad of brothers.

Ted Laughton’s ability to describe the terrain as well as the characters was incredible.

I do wish some of the character back stories were more towards the front of the book. There were times when momentum started to pick up only to dip when the next chapter started with a character back story.

We Burn Our Dead was a Goodreads giveaway, but my opinion in my own.

[Rachel MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ornately written war story

I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway and wasn't aware what it would entail. The writing was very elegant and ornate. While it's not my preference, I can recognize talent and see why so many other readers adored it. I am also not a big fan of war, soldiers, or fighting. That means the subject manner of the book just wasn't of much interest to me. The skill of the writing and intrigue of the storytelling did an impressive job at trying to overcome that deficit. If you like war or philosophical virtue stories, then you should give it a try.

[Erin Ellison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the concept/premise of this book and I did like the authors writing style however I had a really difficult time connecting with the characters therefore it just didn't captivate me and reel me in like I wanted it to. so for me personally it just wasn't my cup of tea. it wasn't poorly written and it wasn't a "bad" book so please don't let my review influence you.. this one just wasnt for me.

thank you for the giveaway win

[Tobyann Aparisi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads (kindle version) for my honest review.

This is my first book read by this author and I have to say it is a very well written story and wonderful way of expressing brotherhood in and out of battle. This is a story of how a group can work as one to accomplish a singular goal and all that can go right and wrong when meeting a terrible foe. I loved the author's voice in this book and the way he writes. I look forward to reading more from this writer.