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Deerstalker
In seventeenth-century Germany, as an ugly war rages through the countryside, an otherworldly nightmare spends years stalking a small Bavarian village. The villagers have built their entire lives around their curse and the hefty toll it demands, pushing away new arrivals who could be affected by it. Just as winter settles in, a young traveler wanders into the unwelcoming village. He comes face to face with the very thing that haunts it. In doing so, he sets events in motion that threaten to pull the village apart by its already fraying edges. Steeped in the rich history of seventeenth-century Germany, Deerstalker is a supernatural horror story entwined with a tantalizing LGBT+ romance.
240 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 2025
45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 25, 2025
Alright. The cover art pulled me in more than anything else, I'll be honest. The hook is decent. And! There's a twist with Jacques at around the 60% mark that was cool even though I saw it coming.
Deerstalker has many elements that I enjoy in *other* books, so I really thought it would be for me. Curses. Claustrophobic towns that you can't leave. Fairy tale vibes. Queer characters. Unfortunately, I was hopelessly bored. Maybe that's my fault. Maybe if I re-read it down the line, I'd love it. But if I'm being entirely honest I wasn't excited to read this book once I'd actually started. I wasn't invested in knowing what came next. Deerstalker is only 240 pages but it felt much longer.
The blurb calls Deerstalker a supernatural horror and for the life of me I don't understand why. I fully admit and recognize that horror is subjective but I never once felt anxiety, dread, unease--let alone fear. I can't even point to anything that others might be afraid of because the book skips over anything remotely uncomfortable.
I found the scene where Jacques is attacked to be a huge letdown. This was such an important moment, this is where any horror elements could have really shined. Instead, it felt handwaved and glossed over. Which feels like a missed opportunity in a book that's supposed to be supernatural horror?? We get some descriptions *after* the attack when caretaking is happening, which is nice, but I would have preferred having more vivid and visceral descriptions of the injuries when Jacques was in immediate danger.
Similarly, I can't bring myself to care about what happened to Wendell's parents. Not just because they're unlikeable, but because they were around for such a short time. If that was intended to hit an important emotional beat, it was lost on me.
I don't have enough knowledge of Germany in the 1600s to speak much on what is and isn't accurate--but the existence of shotguns, especially having them be called such, was jarring and didn't feel right to the time period.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Deerstalker has many elements that I enjoy in *other* books, so I really thought it would be for me. Curses. Claustrophobic towns that you can't leave. Fairy tale vibes. Queer characters. Unfortunately, I was hopelessly bored. Maybe that's my fault. Maybe if I re-read it down the line, I'd love it. But if I'm being entirely honest I wasn't excited to read this book once I'd actually started. I wasn't invested in knowing what came next. Deerstalker is only 240 pages but it felt much longer.
The blurb calls Deerstalker a supernatural horror and for the life of me I don't understand why. I fully admit and recognize that horror is subjective but I never once felt anxiety, dread, unease--let alone fear. I can't even point to anything that others might be afraid of because the book skips over anything remotely uncomfortable.
I found the scene where Jacques is attacked to be a huge letdown. This was such an important moment, this is where any horror elements could have really shined. Instead, it felt handwaved and glossed over. Which feels like a missed opportunity in a book that's supposed to be supernatural horror?? We get some descriptions *after* the attack when caretaking is happening, which is nice, but I would have preferred having more vivid and visceral descriptions of the injuries when Jacques was in immediate danger.
Similarly, I can't bring myself to care about what happened to Wendell's parents. Not just because they're unlikeable, but because they were around for such a short time. If that was intended to hit an important emotional beat, it was lost on me.
I don't have enough knowledge of Germany in the 1600s to speak much on what is and isn't accurate--but the existence of shotguns, especially having them be called such, was jarring and didn't feel right to the time period.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
October 24, 2025
2.5 Rounded up. I really wanted to like this but boy was this not what it seems like it should be. This is labeled as a 17th century Bavarian horror fantasy but holy anachronisms batman, what did I just read? A shotgun in 1600s Germany? The style of language, the very modern mannerisms that just didn't fit. This would have worked so much better if the author just made it a fantasy land and not trying to put it into an IRL setting. I just didn't believe it. I spent so much time getting distracted with how unrealistic to the time it felt and then the book was over with a very weird ending. What was the point of that last scene introducing the two random lover characters? So much didn't fit. And Jacques suddenly calling Wendall "Wendy" at random times and so late in the story that the nickname wasn't organic at all. Their "love story" felt so rushed, the introduction of the other characters, the passing of his grandfather, even the deaths of his parents, everything was so poorly paced I just struggled.
A few positives was that if I treated it like a fantasy world it has some better moments. I wish it had done more with the horror side because it just felt like a lot of the story was Wendell being resigned to everyone hating him and Jacques going "you deserve to join in with the community!" every other line was repetitive. Ah man I was supposed to say positives and wound up negative again...whoops. It just had a rough go with something I thought was going to be spine-chilling and creepy for spooky season and it just wasn't.
A few positives was that if I treated it like a fantasy world it has some better moments. I wish it had done more with the horror side because it just felt like a lot of the story was Wendell being resigned to everyone hating him and Jacques going "you deserve to join in with the community!" every other line was repetitive. Ah man I was supposed to say positives and wound up negative again...whoops. It just had a rough go with something I thought was going to be spine-chilling and creepy for spooky season and it just wasn't.
March 10, 2025
Thank you to Indigo River Publishing and NetGalley for an e-Arc in exchange for a review!
I really find the blurb of the book to be very misleading. It is not very historical, and I did not find that it was really a "tantalizing" romance either. If I didn't read the dates at the chapter titles, I wouldn't have recognized this to be taking place in the 1600s at all. The relationship between the two leads read sweet at times, but nothing really happened between them. It felt incomplete by the end of the book.
Overall, nothing really happened within the story. The writing and dialogue was very choppy, and with the abrupt changing of POVs during the first half of the book, it made the reading experience disjointed with no flow. The characters, who were supposed to be adults, did not feel like they were adults at all. This book read more like a Young Adult book or younger if anything.
I really find the blurb of the book to be very misleading. It is not very historical, and I did not find that it was really a "tantalizing" romance either. If I didn't read the dates at the chapter titles, I wouldn't have recognized this to be taking place in the 1600s at all. The relationship between the two leads read sweet at times, but nothing really happened between them. It felt incomplete by the end of the book.
Overall, nothing really happened within the story. The writing and dialogue was very choppy, and with the abrupt changing of POVs during the first half of the book, it made the reading experience disjointed with no flow. The characters, who were supposed to be adults, did not feel like they were adults at all. This book read more like a Young Adult book or younger if anything.
February 17, 2025
This is a captivating dark fairy tale and fantasy that is worth reading. The plot is rich with familiar elements, including forbidden love, a curse, and a fearsome evil creature that will leave a lasting impression on you. By the end, your perspective on the story may completely shift. While romance plays a role, it is the camaraderie and sense of gratitude among the characters that truly drive the narrative. The "Inquisitors" add an extra layer of intrigue to the story, and I hope there will be a sequel to this deliciously dark fairy tale in the future.
April 24, 2025
I was exceedingly excited about this book based on the cover and the blurb. However, this was an unfortunate let down to me.
The writing felt jarring and completely impersonal, even with the characters speaking to one another or being in the midst of emotionally charged scenes. The characters themselves had no depth or emotion through the entirety of the book, and I found it hard to cheer our MMC's on while their personalities fell flat to me.
The curse, though nothing new in terms of idea, did have a unique spin on it which I found enjoyable to read about. A little more world building regarding the history and the curse itself would have helped things feel more rounded out for readers. The historical aspect almost made it a cozy paranormal thriller to me which would have been more fitting than a horror.
The writing felt jarring and completely impersonal, even with the characters speaking to one another or being in the midst of emotionally charged scenes. The characters themselves had no depth or emotion through the entirety of the book, and I found it hard to cheer our MMC's on while their personalities fell flat to me.
The curse, though nothing new in terms of idea, did have a unique spin on it which I found enjoyable to read about. A little more world building regarding the history and the curse itself would have helped things feel more rounded out for readers. The historical aspect almost made it a cozy paranormal thriller to me which would have been more fitting than a horror.
March 2, 2025
I received this book from NetGalley and my opinions are my own.
Deerstalker by Nicole M. Zaunbrecher is my favorite kind of queer horror story. There's body horror, gay pinning, found family, and more. It was in my opinion a very satisfying read.
Deerstalker by Nicole M. Zaunbrecher is my favorite kind of queer horror story. There's body horror, gay pinning, found family, and more. It was in my opinion a very satisfying read.
April 13, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Indigo River Publishing for the ARC copy of Deerstalker. This has not affected my review at all, which are my own thoughts.
Set in the seventeenth-century Germany,and with an ugly war raging the countryside, a village has been stalked and terrified by an otherworldly nightmare for years. The villagers have built their entire lives and personalities around their curse and the heavy monthly price it demands from them, pushing away new comers who could be affected by it.
Now, as winter settles in, the first snow coming in, a young traveler, Jacques, wanders into the unwelcoming village by luck (or misfortune). He comes face to face with the very thing that haunts it, and the boy most affected by this curse, young Wendell, setting in motion a series of events that threaten to pull it all apart, revealing how deep the hatred of the village reaches and how easy it can be to destabilized their world and view of it.
So, we start in hot, with Jacques already wandering through the forest until he stumbles upon the hidden cursed village, where he asks for food and nightly shelter so he can rest a bit in a bed for once, instead of the floor. But people there are reticent, looking at him like he spat at their faces and usher him to abandon the place at one. On the other hand, we have Wendell, who suffers under the curse of the village, having to transform in a wrong-formed deer once a month, which makes him an outcast, with only his grandfather on his side. And so these two come together when Wendell's grandfather accepts Jacques at their house for family dinner.
A strong point of Deerstalker is that the novel is dual POV, so we get to meet both characters right from the start, being able to know what they think and feel first hand, their side of the story and two extremely different perspectives on the curse: the bearer and the outsider. So, when Jacques gets attacked at night by Nightmare, the deer manifestation through Wendell of the curse, and ends on the apothecary's table, hanging on to life by a thread, Wendell and Jacques' lives get tangle together.
So, I enjoyed Deerstalker so much that I was conflicted about finishing it and was dreading the moment because I wanted to stay more with the characters and the world they inhabit, but I also needed to know how it would end, what would happen to our main characters and their friends and families, to see how things would resolve. And, for that, I needed to reach the last page. When I did, I felt relieved at how events had played out for Jacques and Wendell.
Honestly, I liked this book far more than I expected. The curse aspect is what mostly called to me along that stunning cover, but I wasn't convinced just yet after a few chapters, but I kept reading and eventually attached myself to the characters and their issues to the point of flying through the pages and using every little free moment I had to get down a few pages.
As I said, it starts slow, making sure to introduce the characters, their goals, fears, motives, possible secrets and the context they live within, mainly, the village that wants neither of them there and that ostracize the men to the point of isolating them at a place where they are not even welcome, because Wendell's parents, apparently, doesn't want him near either, and, by extension, Jacques. But they are resilient, hopeful, they get closer to each other and make friends with Wendell's grandfather, who is helping in any way possible as Jacques lays in bed as his wounds heal and Wendell treats these as penance.
Since I'm already talking about Wendell and Jacques' relationship, I want to say that this is what clearly carried the story for me, filling all the spaces and being the central element of the book. They were contrasting, with Wendell being more shy, kind and, overall, an open book with his emotions, while Jacques was more reserved about his life and more stoic, but they both were kindred souls and ended up sharing much more than just a dinner or a few days of recovery. I loved their relationship, so cute and pure, built on trust and a promise of mutual care. I don't like to choose favorites, but it'd be Wendell without a doubt; I want to do just as Jacques would: wrap him in a blanket and show him that there's far more good people out there than bad, ans thus protect him form the villagers' hate.
Also, I think that the secondary characters were well constructed, both the villagers and outsiders that come and go throughout the novel. I don't want to say much to avoid spoilers, but, eventually, some people come to offer their help with the curse and they are such an amazing group of characters. So different and so well-defined with ambitions and needs of their own; though there to give lessons and aid growth on other characters, they felt like their own. I found them entertaining and interesting. I'd definitely read a book about this helping group and get to know them better.
Finally, I do have some complains, but these are more hand in hand with my personal taste on books that an objectively bad aspect of the novel, per se. Meaning, that because I wanted more from this element, what is in the novel is enough for the story being told an paints a vivid and believable image. So, as you can guest, I'm talking about the world building. The village and the world it inhabits, which we get to know trough Jacques and outsiders that come through (mainly, that helping group I mentioned), while we get to know about the curse and such through Wendell, both with his thoughts and what he explains to Jacques, who has no idea, just like us.
So, the way these facts were delivered was good, without overwhelming the reader and in an slow but consistent stream/pace. It was interested, an original curse still base on other more usual ways of fantasy/historical fantasy novels. It also show how hate can take root by something that the outcasted people can not control and yet, no matter how others show the villagers that Wendell is no threat they do not learn, because they refuse to accept the truth no matter how much they see it.
So, my complain is that I would have like the book (and hence the author) to go deeper in it, in the details given to us, explore through the pages. I wanted more of the outside world, more of the supernatural aspect. The village could have been more developed, because at times it felt like a context for the characters, while other moments it came alive like nothing, looking like a place that could actually exist. Therefore, I think I could have liked this book a bit more if it would have been like the latter all the time. But, as I said, this is base on my taste for books, because this is never done in detriment of the story.
Overall, an enjoyable novel, a historical fantasy story touching on various themes like otherness due to uncontrollable aspects, which is the reality of a lot of people that will see their story in these pages, so totally recommending Deerstalker not only to these readers but to everybody
Set in the seventeenth-century Germany,and with an ugly war raging the countryside, a village has been stalked and terrified by an otherworldly nightmare for years. The villagers have built their entire lives and personalities around their curse and the heavy monthly price it demands from them, pushing away new comers who could be affected by it.
Now, as winter settles in, the first snow coming in, a young traveler, Jacques, wanders into the unwelcoming village by luck (or misfortune). He comes face to face with the very thing that haunts it, and the boy most affected by this curse, young Wendell, setting in motion a series of events that threaten to pull it all apart, revealing how deep the hatred of the village reaches and how easy it can be to destabilized their world and view of it.
So, we start in hot, with Jacques already wandering through the forest until he stumbles upon the hidden cursed village, where he asks for food and nightly shelter so he can rest a bit in a bed for once, instead of the floor. But people there are reticent, looking at him like he spat at their faces and usher him to abandon the place at one. On the other hand, we have Wendell, who suffers under the curse of the village, having to transform in a wrong-formed deer once a month, which makes him an outcast, with only his grandfather on his side. And so these two come together when Wendell's grandfather accepts Jacques at their house for family dinner.
A strong point of Deerstalker is that the novel is dual POV, so we get to meet both characters right from the start, being able to know what they think and feel first hand, their side of the story and two extremely different perspectives on the curse: the bearer and the outsider. So, when Jacques gets attacked at night by Nightmare, the deer manifestation through Wendell of the curse, and ends on the apothecary's table, hanging on to life by a thread, Wendell and Jacques' lives get tangle together.
So, I enjoyed Deerstalker so much that I was conflicted about finishing it and was dreading the moment because I wanted to stay more with the characters and the world they inhabit, but I also needed to know how it would end, what would happen to our main characters and their friends and families, to see how things would resolve. And, for that, I needed to reach the last page. When I did, I felt relieved at how events had played out for Jacques and Wendell.
Honestly, I liked this book far more than I expected. The curse aspect is what mostly called to me along that stunning cover, but I wasn't convinced just yet after a few chapters, but I kept reading and eventually attached myself to the characters and their issues to the point of flying through the pages and using every little free moment I had to get down a few pages.
As I said, it starts slow, making sure to introduce the characters, their goals, fears, motives, possible secrets and the context they live within, mainly, the village that wants neither of them there and that ostracize the men to the point of isolating them at a place where they are not even welcome, because Wendell's parents, apparently, doesn't want him near either, and, by extension, Jacques. But they are resilient, hopeful, they get closer to each other and make friends with Wendell's grandfather, who is helping in any way possible as Jacques lays in bed as his wounds heal and Wendell treats these as penance.
Since I'm already talking about Wendell and Jacques' relationship, I want to say that this is what clearly carried the story for me, filling all the spaces and being the central element of the book. They were contrasting, with Wendell being more shy, kind and, overall, an open book with his emotions, while Jacques was more reserved about his life and more stoic, but they both were kindred souls and ended up sharing much more than just a dinner or a few days of recovery. I loved their relationship, so cute and pure, built on trust and a promise of mutual care. I don't like to choose favorites, but it'd be Wendell without a doubt; I want to do just as Jacques would: wrap him in a blanket and show him that there's far more good people out there than bad, ans thus protect him form the villagers' hate.
Also, I think that the secondary characters were well constructed, both the villagers and outsiders that come and go throughout the novel. I don't want to say much to avoid spoilers, but, eventually, some people come to offer their help with the curse and they are such an amazing group of characters. So different and so well-defined with ambitions and needs of their own; though there to give lessons and aid growth on other characters, they felt like their own. I found them entertaining and interesting. I'd definitely read a book about this helping group and get to know them better.
Finally, I do have some complains, but these are more hand in hand with my personal taste on books that an objectively bad aspect of the novel, per se. Meaning, that because I wanted more from this element, what is in the novel is enough for the story being told an paints a vivid and believable image. So, as you can guest, I'm talking about the world building. The village and the world it inhabits, which we get to know trough Jacques and outsiders that come through (mainly, that helping group I mentioned), while we get to know about the curse and such through Wendell, both with his thoughts and what he explains to Jacques, who has no idea, just like us.
So, the way these facts were delivered was good, without overwhelming the reader and in an slow but consistent stream/pace. It was interested, an original curse still base on other more usual ways of fantasy/historical fantasy novels. It also show how hate can take root by something that the outcasted people can not control and yet, no matter how others show the villagers that Wendell is no threat they do not learn, because they refuse to accept the truth no matter how much they see it.
So, my complain is that I would have like the book (and hence the author) to go deeper in it, in the details given to us, explore through the pages. I wanted more of the outside world, more of the supernatural aspect. The village could have been more developed, because at times it felt like a context for the characters, while other moments it came alive like nothing, looking like a place that could actually exist. Therefore, I think I could have liked this book a bit more if it would have been like the latter all the time. But, as I said, this is base on my taste for books, because this is never done in detriment of the story.
Overall, an enjoyable novel, a historical fantasy story touching on various themes like otherness due to uncontrollable aspects, which is the reality of a lot of people that will see their story in these pages, so totally recommending Deerstalker not only to these readers but to everybody
February 17, 2025
A big thank you to Indigo River Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.
The cover and the marketing blurb for Deerstalker do a lot of the heavy lifting because, frankly, this book doesn’t have a lot else going for it.
Deerstalker is the story of Jacques and Wendell, two young men in 17th century Germany. When Jacques stops in a small town during his travels, he discovers that the village has been cursed. As the book unravels, Jacques and his newfound friend, Wendell, must grapple with the town’s curse, its unwelcoming people, and a growing connection between the two of them.
While toted as a supernatural horror, I found this book to be rather soft. There’s some violence, but overall, the story glosses over those moments to delve deeper into the budding connection between Jacques and Wendell. The character’s interactions with one another are soft and indulgent, and the novel really plays into themes around friendship and found families. The novel is thick with the supernatural and delves into those aspects really well. Using the phases of the moon as a timeclock gave the novel solid grounding and a mystic edge.
That being said, the first half of the novel skips around a lot, beginning with the present and then occasionally jumping back to Wendell’s childhood and upbringing. These flashbacks, if you want to call them that, were important to the story, but felt very thrown in and disorganized. Additionally, for a book being propped up as a historical fiction, there were many issues with the novel’s language that really threw that tag aside. Sometimes characters would speak with what I’d call “old timey” language but then be talking like someone I met on the street an hour ago. Neither of those are the wrong way to go, but the novel really needed more consistency. The other thing that really bothered me was when shotguns showed up toward the end of the novel. Sure, early versions of them existed then, but shotgun wasn’t popularized as a term until the late 1770s as far as I’m aware (someone can correct me if I'm wrong here). I know I’m being nitpicky, but instances like these give the whole novel a more amateur feel, not what I would expect from a polished, ready-for-publication draft.
And, of course, I have to talk about the characters. I didn’t like any of them. They all felt like flat caricatures rather than real people that I could empathize with. We did get some emotion from Jacques throughout; he probably felt the least like a cardboard cutout. Jacques in a lot of ways became the reader’s eyes as he learned more about the village he’d stumbled into and its curse along with the reader. It gave him more dimension as he struggled to come to terms with who he was and worked to change into who he wanted to be. Everyone else acts just about how you expect them to with no growth, emotion, or interest.
Finally, I’m not sure who the target audience of this novel is. I’d assume adult (especially given that tantalizing romance is one of the descriptors), but it reads much younger. I’d say middle school, but the violence might bump it up to high school. The romances are all very PG (not that that’s a bad thing), and the language was all rather simplistic (and clean).
Overall, this book was a big miss for me. The cover is beautiful and the description intriguing, but the actual novel just didn’t live up to the expectations those two things set for it.
The cover and the marketing blurb for Deerstalker do a lot of the heavy lifting because, frankly, this book doesn’t have a lot else going for it.
Deerstalker is the story of Jacques and Wendell, two young men in 17th century Germany. When Jacques stops in a small town during his travels, he discovers that the village has been cursed. As the book unravels, Jacques and his newfound friend, Wendell, must grapple with the town’s curse, its unwelcoming people, and a growing connection between the two of them.
While toted as a supernatural horror, I found this book to be rather soft. There’s some violence, but overall, the story glosses over those moments to delve deeper into the budding connection between Jacques and Wendell. The character’s interactions with one another are soft and indulgent, and the novel really plays into themes around friendship and found families. The novel is thick with the supernatural and delves into those aspects really well. Using the phases of the moon as a timeclock gave the novel solid grounding and a mystic edge.
That being said, the first half of the novel skips around a lot, beginning with the present and then occasionally jumping back to Wendell’s childhood and upbringing. These flashbacks, if you want to call them that, were important to the story, but felt very thrown in and disorganized. Additionally, for a book being propped up as a historical fiction, there were many issues with the novel’s language that really threw that tag aside. Sometimes characters would speak with what I’d call “old timey” language but then be talking like someone I met on the street an hour ago. Neither of those are the wrong way to go, but the novel really needed more consistency. The other thing that really bothered me was when shotguns showed up toward the end of the novel. Sure, early versions of them existed then, but shotgun wasn’t popularized as a term until the late 1770s as far as I’m aware (someone can correct me if I'm wrong here). I know I’m being nitpicky, but instances like these give the whole novel a more amateur feel, not what I would expect from a polished, ready-for-publication draft.
And, of course, I have to talk about the characters. I didn’t like any of them. They all felt like flat caricatures rather than real people that I could empathize with. We did get some emotion from Jacques throughout; he probably felt the least like a cardboard cutout. Jacques in a lot of ways became the reader’s eyes as he learned more about the village he’d stumbled into and its curse along with the reader. It gave him more dimension as he struggled to come to terms with who he was and worked to change into who he wanted to be. Everyone else acts just about how you expect them to with no growth, emotion, or interest.
Finally, I’m not sure who the target audience of this novel is. I’d assume adult (especially given that tantalizing romance is one of the descriptors), but it reads much younger. I’d say middle school, but the violence might bump it up to high school. The romances are all very PG (not that that’s a bad thing), and the language was all rather simplistic (and clean).
Overall, this book was a big miss for me. The cover is beautiful and the description intriguing, but the actual novel just didn’t live up to the expectations those two things set for it.
April 15, 2025
I received this as an ARC directly from the author. All views expressed are my own.
Could Recommend - For those who’re in it more for the journey than answers, necessarily.
Blurb is at the end of the review, for those who aren’t into that sort of thing.
Historical fantasyish. MM romantic sub-plot.
This was a strange read, and trying to find a genre it technically qualified as was complicated. It also makes talking about it more difficult.
It’s set in what seems to the 1600s, in a remote village in Germany. It begins with Wendell, who seems to be the carrier for a mysterious curse that has plagued the village for generations.
Although the path for the story seems clear, we end up meandering down other paths at every turn. What started as the foundations for a mystery, or adventure, instead becomes more of a meditation on humanity and how they respond to perceived monsters. We encounter, and learn about, quite a few people and the villagers’ mindset and approach to the monster in their midst in glancing ways.
At its core, though, is a gently hinted at romance between Wendell and Jacques, and Wendell’s relationship with his grandfather who loves him.
There are many many unanswered questions by the end, but you get the impression that wasn’t ever the point of the story to begin with.
The story was fine for what it was, but the way it was setup did put me in a position where I wanted answers, not just to appreciate a story of growth and change. As a result, I was ultimately slightly disappointed by the way it finished.
Synopsis:
A small remote village in Germany carries a curse that is passed on generation to generation. Wendell, the current carrier of this curse, becomes a deadly and dangerous beast on the night of the full moon and must take a sacrifice, lest the village encounter worse fortune instead. Nevertheless, he is shunned by the villagers and has few kind or loving relationships in his life.
Jacques, a traveller, stumbles upon this village and its secret. But rather than just seeing a monster after being attacked, Jacques sees something worth caring for.
Could Recommend - For those who’re in it more for the journey than answers, necessarily.
Blurb is at the end of the review, for those who aren’t into that sort of thing.
Historical fantasyish. MM romantic sub-plot.
This was a strange read, and trying to find a genre it technically qualified as was complicated. It also makes talking about it more difficult.
It’s set in what seems to the 1600s, in a remote village in Germany. It begins with Wendell, who seems to be the carrier for a mysterious curse that has plagued the village for generations.
Although the path for the story seems clear, we end up meandering down other paths at every turn. What started as the foundations for a mystery, or adventure, instead becomes more of a meditation on humanity and how they respond to perceived monsters. We encounter, and learn about, quite a few people and the villagers’ mindset and approach to the monster in their midst in glancing ways.
At its core, though, is a gently hinted at romance between Wendell and Jacques, and Wendell’s relationship with his grandfather who loves him.
There are many many unanswered questions by the end, but you get the impression that wasn’t ever the point of the story to begin with.
The story was fine for what it was, but the way it was setup did put me in a position where I wanted answers, not just to appreciate a story of growth and change. As a result, I was ultimately slightly disappointed by the way it finished.
Synopsis:
A small remote village in Germany carries a curse that is passed on generation to generation. Wendell, the current carrier of this curse, becomes a deadly and dangerous beast on the night of the full moon and must take a sacrifice, lest the village encounter worse fortune instead. Nevertheless, he is shunned by the villagers and has few kind or loving relationships in his life.
Jacques, a traveller, stumbles upon this village and its secret. But rather than just seeing a monster after being attacked, Jacques sees something worth caring for.
February 17, 2025
'deerstalker' by nicole m. zaunbrecher is a supernatural horror story with a romance subplot. it follows wendall, who is plagued by a curse that causes him to transform into a ravenous beast every new moon, claiming a sacrifice... until jacques comes along, managing to survive.
this story was very easy to read, and i quickly became invested. i liked the writing and often forgot i was reading. the characters were sweet (well, not all of them), and i appreciated the emotional bond between the two main characters, which made their love for each other believable and honest, not feeling forced. the cast of characters was diverse, and i particularly enjoyed the second half. i wonder if this will become a series, given how it ended... if it does, i’ll probably check out the next book :)
i do have to mention that the book felt a bit repetitive at times, especially in the beginning. it gave me the chance to get to know the characters more, but it also left me feeling a bit lost at times, not really sure where the book was headed. but, as i mentioned, the second half improved a lot, with new characters being introduced and more events unfolding.
i would’ve loved to see a deeper exploration of the main character's relationship with their sexuality. the book is set in a time when homosexuality isn’t accepted (as shown in the way other characters are treated), and i thought there was a great opportunity to explore themes of identity, self-love, expression, and acceptance. we didn’t really get any of that here, and the romance itself was pretty minimal. i'm curious whether this was intentional or something that may come in a potential continuation.
the message of the book, and the way it was conveyed, was excellent. it tells the story of a boy who is discriminated against and outcast for something he cannot control, which is something many people can relate to. overall, i definitely had fun reading this.
thank you to nicole m. zaunbrecher, indigo river publishing, and netgalley for an earc.
this story was very easy to read, and i quickly became invested. i liked the writing and often forgot i was reading. the characters were sweet (well, not all of them), and i appreciated the emotional bond between the two main characters, which made their love for each other believable and honest, not feeling forced. the cast of characters was diverse, and i particularly enjoyed the second half. i wonder if this will become a series, given how it ended... if it does, i’ll probably check out the next book :)
i do have to mention that the book felt a bit repetitive at times, especially in the beginning. it gave me the chance to get to know the characters more, but it also left me feeling a bit lost at times, not really sure where the book was headed. but, as i mentioned, the second half improved a lot, with new characters being introduced and more events unfolding.
i would’ve loved to see a deeper exploration of the main character's relationship with their sexuality. the book is set in a time when homosexuality isn’t accepted (as shown in the way other characters are treated), and i thought there was a great opportunity to explore themes of identity, self-love, expression, and acceptance. we didn’t really get any of that here, and the romance itself was pretty minimal. i'm curious whether this was intentional or something that may come in a potential continuation.
the message of the book, and the way it was conveyed, was excellent. it tells the story of a boy who is discriminated against and outcast for something he cannot control, which is something many people can relate to. overall, i definitely had fun reading this.
thank you to nicole m. zaunbrecher, indigo river publishing, and netgalley for an earc.
February 18, 2025
This was a strange, twisted, fairytale-like story that was full of folklore and curses. Set in 1600’s Europe (I believe Germany, although I don’t think it’s stated) it follows Wendell, a young man cursed to turn into a monster every new moon and to claim a ‘sacrifice’. When traveller Jacques passes through the cursed village, the monster almost kills him, but somehow he survives the attack and Wendell, back in human form and wracked with grief, vows to nurse the traveller back to health.
I loved the claustrophobic way the story is told; Wendell is prevented from leaving the village that he torments and he is hated by everyone who should hold him dear. Jacques is keeping secrets and is running away from a mysterious past… I enjoyed the addition of the ‘Inquisitors’ who initially sparked fear in Wendell and Jacques, but eventually became their salvation!
Rating this one was really hard… because on one hand I thought the concept was really interesting, I loved the way it felt dark and hopeless and creepy (someone else described it as ‘cosy horror’ and I absolutely agree) but equally I felt like it needed to have been developed a little further - the speech in places was extremely stilted (although I’m wiling to give it a pass as it’s set in the 1600s) and I thought the revelation about Jacques’ past needed way more information to make it make sense! You can’t drop that bombshell and be like ‘okay, moving on’ 😹 That being said, I found it an enjoyable read and once I’d come to terms with suspension of belief I was happy to overlook Jacques weirdness, so it gets 4* based on vibes alone but probably should only get 3* for technical writing. But y’know, reviews are about vibes and if you want a cosy horror with some co-dependent sweethearts looking after each other and battling a curse then give this one a go!
Read Deerstalker for:
✨ Cosy horror
✨ Human(??) x Cursed Monster
✨ Claustrophobic vibes
✨ Folklore and fairytales
✨ Curses and sacrifices
✨ 1600’s Europe
✨ Found family
Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book. It’s available on 15th April 2025.
I loved the claustrophobic way the story is told; Wendell is prevented from leaving the village that he torments and he is hated by everyone who should hold him dear. Jacques is keeping secrets and is running away from a mysterious past… I enjoyed the addition of the ‘Inquisitors’ who initially sparked fear in Wendell and Jacques, but eventually became their salvation!
Rating this one was really hard… because on one hand I thought the concept was really interesting, I loved the way it felt dark and hopeless and creepy (someone else described it as ‘cosy horror’ and I absolutely agree) but equally I felt like it needed to have been developed a little further - the speech in places was extremely stilted (although I’m wiling to give it a pass as it’s set in the 1600s) and I thought the revelation about Jacques’ past needed way more information to make it make sense! You can’t drop that bombshell and be like ‘okay, moving on’ 😹 That being said, I found it an enjoyable read and once I’d come to terms with suspension of belief I was happy to overlook Jacques weirdness, so it gets 4* based on vibes alone but probably should only get 3* for technical writing. But y’know, reviews are about vibes and if you want a cosy horror with some co-dependent sweethearts looking after each other and battling a curse then give this one a go!
Read Deerstalker for:
✨ Cosy horror
✨ Human(??) x Cursed Monster
✨ Claustrophobic vibes
✨ Folklore and fairytales
✨ Curses and sacrifices
✨ 1600’s Europe
✨ Found family
Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book. It’s available on 15th April 2025.
March 8, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me this free eARC in exchange for an honest review. (This is my first ARC ever, actually!! Exciting!!!)
I am actually quite sad I didn't enjoy this very much! The story is very interesting and I can feel the author's passion, which is part of what kept me going. It's clear what their favorite parts to write were (the monster scenes), as they are the best written. I overall enjoyed the story, but sadly, the prose was quite simply underbaked. It reads like a first or second draft. This feels very strongly like a book I would really enjoy after a couple more drafts, after a little longer in the oven.
The pros: The story itself is interesting. I like it conceptually, and I like it as it develops. The characters feel distinct and are fun to read and be with. The queer aspect was much more minor than expected/it's marketed as, but I like it. I very much loved the monster/horror scenes, they were the standout part of the book. It's easy to read.
The cons: It's... too easy to read. The prose was very lacking, even in the monster scenes where it is notably better. I can't quite call the characters "strong," because they overall feel very one-dimensional. I kept imagining Wendell as much younger than he actually is, which could be a me thing, but it certainly took me out of the romance at times. Speaking of, the romance feels underdeveloped, leading to a confession that feels pretty out of nowhere. The ending was abrupt and didn't feel like it was being built up to much at all. I think it could've worked, but in its current iteration, I felt kind of let down.
I really can summarize this as a victim of being undercooked. This has the passion of a novice writer, but also the prose of a novice writer. I would be interested in reading more from this author in maybe a couple years.
I am actually quite sad I didn't enjoy this very much! The story is very interesting and I can feel the author's passion, which is part of what kept me going. It's clear what their favorite parts to write were (the monster scenes), as they are the best written. I overall enjoyed the story, but sadly, the prose was quite simply underbaked. It reads like a first or second draft. This feels very strongly like a book I would really enjoy after a couple more drafts, after a little longer in the oven.
The pros: The story itself is interesting. I like it conceptually, and I like it as it develops. The characters feel distinct and are fun to read and be with. The queer aspect was much more minor than expected/it's marketed as, but I like it. I very much loved the monster/horror scenes, they were the standout part of the book. It's easy to read.
The cons: It's... too easy to read. The prose was very lacking, even in the monster scenes where it is notably better. I can't quite call the characters "strong," because they overall feel very one-dimensional. I kept imagining Wendell as much younger than he actually is, which could be a me thing, but it certainly took me out of the romance at times. Speaking of, the romance feels underdeveloped, leading to a confession that feels pretty out of nowhere. The ending was abrupt and didn't feel like it was being built up to much at all. I think it could've worked, but in its current iteration, I felt kind of let down.
I really can summarize this as a victim of being undercooked. This has the passion of a novice writer, but also the prose of a novice writer. I would be interested in reading more from this author in maybe a couple years.
February 14, 2025
3.5, actually.
This was quite a pleasant read. Somehow, when I read the summary, I expected it to lean more into horror, but it actually turned out to be quite the cozy tale about a monster who ends up finding his true family.
The story is about Wendell, a young man who is cursed to become a deer-like-monster every month. While he is in that form, he has no control over what he does... and killings enssue. I liked a lot Wendell´s personality: He´s the kind of golden retriever kind of character who wouldn´t hurt a fly if it can be avoided (hated how his parents treated him, btw, I know plot wise it was necessarity but asdfghjkl).
Then we got Jacques, a traveler who came through the village and got attacked by Wendell in his Nightmare form. Things happen and Jacques, after some weeks of healing from his wounds, decides to stay at the village and help Wendell (who´s kind of a pariah in this society) to get rid of the curse.
So, basically, things that I liked:
- The story was pretty wholesome, overall.
- The Inquisition guys were lovely. I feared for a moment they were going to be villains, but I was pleasantly surprised to see they´re not.
- The premise was very interesting (maybe this is also on me, cause I like to see my characters suffer for a bit before being happy)
And also the things I didn´t like that much:
- I felt it lacked of a bit of character development. Specially in regards of Jacques (author, you cannot drop THAT bomb 2/3 into the novel and not give a proper explanaition besides, "he´s just like this")
- The ending also feels a bit rushed.
Other than that, it was a nice YA story with very light horror and fairy tale elements. I liked it, so I recommend.
This was quite a pleasant read. Somehow, when I read the summary, I expected it to lean more into horror, but it actually turned out to be quite the cozy tale about a monster who ends up finding his true family.
The story is about Wendell, a young man who is cursed to become a deer-like-monster every month. While he is in that form, he has no control over what he does... and killings enssue. I liked a lot Wendell´s personality: He´s the kind of golden retriever kind of character who wouldn´t hurt a fly if it can be avoided (hated how his parents treated him, btw, I know plot wise it was necessarity but asdfghjkl).
Then we got Jacques, a traveler who came through the village and got attacked by Wendell in his Nightmare form. Things happen and Jacques, after some weeks of healing from his wounds, decides to stay at the village and help Wendell (who´s kind of a pariah in this society) to get rid of the curse.
So, basically, things that I liked:
- The story was pretty wholesome, overall.
- The Inquisition guys were lovely. I feared for a moment they were going to be villains, but I was pleasantly surprised to see they´re not.
- The premise was very interesting (maybe this is also on me, cause I like to see my characters suffer for a bit before being happy)
And also the things I didn´t like that much:
- I felt it lacked of a bit of character development. Specially in regards of Jacques (author, you cannot drop THAT bomb 2/3 into the novel and not give a proper explanaition besides, "he´s just like this")
- The ending also feels a bit rushed.
Other than that, it was a nice YA story with very light horror and fairy tale elements. I liked it, so I recommend.
February 15, 2025
In a land far, far away,
there lived a boy, burdened with a curse, in a tiny village where everyone despised him… until he found people that valued him.
This story had such a nice fairytale vibe to it that I could excuse some of the clunky dialogues at the beginning. This luckily evens out very fast, and you end up with a fairly flowy writing style.
Once upon a time, the cursed boy met another boy, someone who looked at him differently. But that didn't help the wrath of the villagers that hated him…. And who had really interesting second names.
If you know German, you will notice how a lot of the side characters will be referred to only by their second name, which is always the German word for their occupation, which felt very hilarious at times. Aside from those stylistic choices, I enjoyed the found family aspect of this story a lot, even if it takes almost half the book to finally meet them.
And they lived happily ever after… or did they?
At the end of this story, I was left with a lot of unanswered questions, like:
How does Wendell's curse actually work?
What is up with Jacques past? (They moved on way too quickly from one very, very important realization.)
But most importantly:
What now?
With the open-endedness of this story, it feels like there could follow a second book, but I have found nothing of the sort.
Regardless, "Deerstalker" is a very atmospheric fairy tale with a hint of romance but a lot of found family that is worth reading if you can look past some unwieldy dialogue and an uncertain ending with unresolved questions.
Thanks to NetGalley and Indigo River Publishing for providing me with this ARC in return for an honest review.
This story had such a nice fairytale vibe to it that I could excuse some of the clunky dialogues at the beginning. This luckily evens out very fast, and you end up with a fairly flowy writing style.
Once upon a time, the cursed boy met another boy, someone who looked at him differently. But that didn't help the wrath of the villagers that hated him…. And who had really interesting second names.
If you know German, you will notice how a lot of the side characters will be referred to only by their second name, which is always the German word for their occupation, which felt very hilarious at times. Aside from those stylistic choices, I enjoyed the found family aspect of this story a lot, even if it takes almost half the book to finally meet them.
And they lived happily ever after… or did they?
At the end of this story, I was left with a lot of unanswered questions, like:
How does Wendell's curse actually work?
What is up with Jacques past? (They moved on way too quickly from one very, very important realization.)
But most importantly:
What now?
With the open-endedness of this story, it feels like there could follow a second book, but I have found nothing of the sort.
Regardless, "Deerstalker" is a very atmospheric fairy tale with a hint of romance but a lot of found family that is worth reading if you can look past some unwieldy dialogue and an uncertain ending with unresolved questions.
Thanks to NetGalley and Indigo River Publishing for providing me with this ARC in return for an honest review.
March 5, 2025
It was a nice story about a cursed boy finding a family among people new to town and gaining strength in them through their love and support.
The first half of the book is mostly told through snippets, with constant changes in pov and time, but the later half has fewer changes and longer scenes, which gives it a sense of stability and makes it feel more alive. This goes well with Wendell’s journey of starting to live as a person and becoming more than a cursed boy who must hide to survive. Still, throughout most of the book, the scenes are short and to the point, which can feel a little dry and doesn’t exactly allow for bigger emotional moments.
Being horror, I thought it would be scary, but aside from some slight body horror, the scariest thing was the actions of the villagers, who were just as monstrous as the monster they condemned.
I really liked the description of the cursed animals.
I wouldn’t classify the romance as tantalizing. It is a little understated. It's very sweet, the signs are there, and the characters are very supportive and protective of each other. It’s nice for when you need a break from over-the-top emotions, but not if you like going deep into the emotional state of the characters or a story that focuses on romance. Or if you are looking for spice, they don’t even kiss.
The story left me with a lot of questions. I wish they had been answered since I was most interested in the curse and how the couple was connected through it.
Thank you to Indigo River Publishing and NetGalley for providing an e-arc of this book. All thoughts are my own.
The first half of the book is mostly told through snippets, with constant changes in pov and time, but the later half has fewer changes and longer scenes, which gives it a sense of stability and makes it feel more alive. This goes well with Wendell’s journey of starting to live as a person and becoming more than a cursed boy who must hide to survive. Still, throughout most of the book, the scenes are short and to the point, which can feel a little dry and doesn’t exactly allow for bigger emotional moments.
Being horror, I thought it would be scary, but aside from some slight body horror, the scariest thing was the actions of the villagers, who were just as monstrous as the monster they condemned.
I really liked the description of the cursed animals.
I wouldn’t classify the romance as tantalizing. It is a little understated. It's very sweet, the signs are there, and the characters are very supportive and protective of each other. It’s nice for when you need a break from over-the-top emotions, but not if you like going deep into the emotional state of the characters or a story that focuses on romance. Or if you are looking for spice, they don’t even kiss.
The story left me with a lot of questions. I wish they had been answered since I was most interested in the curse and how the couple was connected through it.
Thank you to Indigo River Publishing and NetGalley for providing an e-arc of this book. All thoughts are my own.
March 14, 2025
Deerstalker is a dark, fairytale-esque fantasy that delivers an intriguing premise with a unique monster and an engaging setting. While I enjoyed the eerie, folklore-inspired atmosphere and the direction the story took with the Inquisitors, the book ultimately fell short in its execution.
One of the highlights for me was the cast of characters—particularly Wendell, Jacques, and, of course, Jacques’s grandfather. They brought some much-needed depth and charm to the story. The monster itself was also a strong point; it was original and eerie enough to keep me invested in how the conflict would unfold. The world Zaunbrecher created had a lot of potential, and I appreciated the way she wove elements of mystery and horror into the narrative.
However, the storytelling itself felt lacking. The writing style came across as clunky, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the world. The pacing was inconsistent—at times too slow, at others too rushed—which made it hard to get into a steady rhythm while reading. Most of the characters, aside from a select few, felt shallow and one-dimensional, which made it difficult to care about their fates or motivations. While the story had a solid foundation, it could have benefited from more refined prose and deeper character development.
Overall, Deerstalker had an interesting premise and some compelling elements, but its execution left a lot to be desired. Fans of dark fairytales and atmospheric horror may still find aspects to enjoy, but the writing and pacing issues make it a less satisfying read than it could have been.
Thanks to NetGalley and Indigo River Publishing for a chance to review this eARC.
One of the highlights for me was the cast of characters—particularly Wendell, Jacques, and, of course, Jacques’s grandfather. They brought some much-needed depth and charm to the story. The monster itself was also a strong point; it was original and eerie enough to keep me invested in how the conflict would unfold. The world Zaunbrecher created had a lot of potential, and I appreciated the way she wove elements of mystery and horror into the narrative.
However, the storytelling itself felt lacking. The writing style came across as clunky, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the world. The pacing was inconsistent—at times too slow, at others too rushed—which made it hard to get into a steady rhythm while reading. Most of the characters, aside from a select few, felt shallow and one-dimensional, which made it difficult to care about their fates or motivations. While the story had a solid foundation, it could have benefited from more refined prose and deeper character development.
Overall, Deerstalker had an interesting premise and some compelling elements, but its execution left a lot to be desired. Fans of dark fairytales and atmospheric horror may still find aspects to enjoy, but the writing and pacing issues make it a less satisfying read than it could have been.
Thanks to NetGalley and Indigo River Publishing for a chance to review this eARC.
April 2, 2025
TLDR- Overall, it is a good book for those who like books that are not deep into horror but more on the fringes of the genre.
Deerstalker mainly follows two boys, Wendell and Jacques. Wendell suffers from a curse that has afflicted the village he was born in for centuries. Meanwhile, Jacques is a traveler on the run from his past. The two are brought together when Jacques wanders into Wendell's village right before the curse activates.
I found the story's plot to be a little basic. At no point was I taken aback or surprised during this book. I also found it to be light on the queer romance. So I think this book is better decsribed as lightly queer and midly horror. I am not a horror connoisseur, so if I thought it was light, that is saying something. It did feel like more of an atmospheric horror in the beginning versus the end. But I probably enjoyed it more with it being light on the horror since it meant there was a "happier" turnout.
As for the good- the writing was engaging. The characters were well developed. And the setting felt authentic. Being set in a historical time helped round out the story and not detract from it. It was also a pretty quick read.
Overall, I thought it was good for me and my lighter taste in horror, but I still wish there was more to the overall plot.
Deerstalker mainly follows two boys, Wendell and Jacques. Wendell suffers from a curse that has afflicted the village he was born in for centuries. Meanwhile, Jacques is a traveler on the run from his past. The two are brought together when Jacques wanders into Wendell's village right before the curse activates.
I found the story's plot to be a little basic. At no point was I taken aback or surprised during this book. I also found it to be light on the queer romance. So I think this book is better decsribed as lightly queer and midly horror. I am not a horror connoisseur, so if I thought it was light, that is saying something. It did feel like more of an atmospheric horror in the beginning versus the end. But I probably enjoyed it more with it being light on the horror since it meant there was a "happier" turnout.
As for the good- the writing was engaging. The characters were well developed. And the setting felt authentic. Being set in a historical time helped round out the story and not detract from it. It was also a pretty quick read.
Overall, I thought it was good for me and my lighter taste in horror, but I still wish there was more to the overall plot.
April 18, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for providing this e-ARC. I had a good time reading this. Honestly not the best book I've read, but I enjoyed it.
It follows Wendell, a young man whose fate is to become the vessel of the village curse. Every new moon, he turned into a deer-like monster and demanded a sacrifice from the villagers. Because of that, he was treated like an outcast, even by his own parents. The only person who cared for him was only his grandfather, until a lone traveller, Jaques, crashed at his place and their fate started to intertwine.
The prose is quite simple and straightforward, easy to read. The dynamic between Wendell and Jaques warmed my heart🥹
But there are some issues I had;
- it didn't feel like medieval Germany, even though the setting was in 1600s, it's more like something happened in the 80s-90s
- the arrival of the "inquisitors" didn't really help to solve the mystery behind the village curse, I mean, come on I need answer to what actually happened to Wendell
- there was a little to nothing about the curse; the Nightmare's backstory, what they actually were, were they summoned by the witch? Could they be separated from the vessel?
But with all those questions, are we expecting a second book? If this is a standalone, it somehow feels incomplete? Too abrupt?
Nevertheless, it's a fun YA read for me, I gave it 3.75⭐ rounded up.
It follows Wendell, a young man whose fate is to become the vessel of the village curse. Every new moon, he turned into a deer-like monster and demanded a sacrifice from the villagers. Because of that, he was treated like an outcast, even by his own parents. The only person who cared for him was only his grandfather, until a lone traveller, Jaques, crashed at his place and their fate started to intertwine.
The prose is quite simple and straightforward, easy to read. The dynamic between Wendell and Jaques warmed my heart🥹
But there are some issues I had;
- it didn't feel like medieval Germany, even though the setting was in 1600s, it's more like something happened in the 80s-90s
- the arrival of the "inquisitors" didn't really help to solve the mystery behind the village curse, I mean, come on I need answer to what actually happened to Wendell
- there was a little to nothing about the curse; the Nightmare's backstory, what they actually were, were they summoned by the witch? Could they be separated from the vessel?
But with all those questions, are we expecting a second book? If this is a standalone, it somehow feels incomplete? Too abrupt?
Nevertheless, it's a fun YA read for me, I gave it 3.75⭐ rounded up.
March 2, 2025
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc of this novel!
This book is not very good. I would say part of this has to do with the advertising. It is described as being a "supernatural horror" story and having a "tantalizing LGBT+ romance." This book had some supernatural elements, but I wouldn't describe it as a horror at all. I would honestly say it is a pretty basic fantasy or fairy tale story. There are technically some horror elements, but they are few and far between. As for the romance... what romance? There was barely any romance in this book. It was lightly implied throughout that Jacques and Wendell were into each other, but it was barely there. I wouldn't even really call it a slow burn, just nothing really happened. In fact, I would say that is a common theme with this book: nothing happens. The book is only 240 pages long but it just dragged. We barely get any answers and the few we get are either very obvious or come out of nowhere. The world is also very underdeveloped. This book supposedly takes place in seventeenth-century Germany, but you would never guess it. Even though this book is already pretty short, I think it would benefit from losing about 100 pages.
This book is not very good. I would say part of this has to do with the advertising. It is described as being a "supernatural horror" story and having a "tantalizing LGBT+ romance." This book had some supernatural elements, but I wouldn't describe it as a horror at all. I would honestly say it is a pretty basic fantasy or fairy tale story. There are technically some horror elements, but they are few and far between. As for the romance... what romance? There was barely any romance in this book. It was lightly implied throughout that Jacques and Wendell were into each other, but it was barely there. I wouldn't even really call it a slow burn, just nothing really happened. In fact, I would say that is a common theme with this book: nothing happens. The book is only 240 pages long but it just dragged. We barely get any answers and the few we get are either very obvious or come out of nowhere. The world is also very underdeveloped. This book supposedly takes place in seventeenth-century Germany, but you would never guess it. Even though this book is already pretty short, I think it would benefit from losing about 100 pages.
March 24, 2025
ARC REVIEW, thank you so much to Nicole M. Zaunbrecher, Indigo River Publishing, and NetGalley for this ARC. My review is not influenced by receiving an ARC. This is an honest review!
3.5 stars
Deerstalker tells the story of a cursed 1600s German village. The town itself feels claustrophobic. We follow Wendell and his grandfather, who allow an unwelcome young traveler to stay with them for his brief stay in the village.
This book has fairy tale/folk lore vibes, found family, LGBTQIA+ characters, curses, and sacrifices. I loved the body horror and gore that this had.
I enjoyed this book, but there is still criticism to be had. I don’t know if this can truly be considered a historical because it didn’t feel like it. The conversations didn’t read like a historical usually does. The romance is pretty minor in the story. I feel this book is being pitched the wrong way and will alienate some people who would have otherwise picked it up. It reads more like a cozy horror.
I wish we got to know things more about the world, the characters, and how everything worked. I’ll probably pick up other books the author makes because the story and concept were good. The execution wasn’t the best, which will improve with each book release.
3.5 stars
Deerstalker tells the story of a cursed 1600s German village. The town itself feels claustrophobic. We follow Wendell and his grandfather, who allow an unwelcome young traveler to stay with them for his brief stay in the village.
This book has fairy tale/folk lore vibes, found family, LGBTQIA+ characters, curses, and sacrifices. I loved the body horror and gore that this had.
I enjoyed this book, but there is still criticism to be had. I don’t know if this can truly be considered a historical because it didn’t feel like it. The conversations didn’t read like a historical usually does. The romance is pretty minor in the story. I feel this book is being pitched the wrong way and will alienate some people who would have otherwise picked it up. It reads more like a cozy horror.
I wish we got to know things more about the world, the characters, and how everything worked. I’ll probably pick up other books the author makes because the story and concept were good. The execution wasn’t the best, which will improve with each book release.
March 3, 2025
received the arc from netgalley, i would say thanks but i really don't want to.
i tried so hard but this is unreadable. this is the least historically grounded historical i have ever encountered. it reads fully contemporary, and like the author only did the most surface level, skimmed a wikipedia page research. the characters are flat, the dialogue is so clunky it reads like it is talking to a five year old, and nobody is going around casually asking others "are you religious" at the dinner table in germany in 1629. one of the more severe cases of people-don't-talk-like-that i have ever had the misfortune of reading.
i only made it 19% of the way in, but still. i encountered nothing that made me feel at all tense, or spooked. so much for horror?
anyways, really unfortunate that this didn't go well, the cover is really cool and the description was interesting but alas, we can't all be winners.
i tried so hard but this is unreadable. this is the least historically grounded historical i have ever encountered. it reads fully contemporary, and like the author only did the most surface level, skimmed a wikipedia page research. the characters are flat, the dialogue is so clunky it reads like it is talking to a five year old, and nobody is going around casually asking others "are you religious" at the dinner table in germany in 1629. one of the more severe cases of people-don't-talk-like-that i have ever had the misfortune of reading.
i only made it 19% of the way in, but still. i encountered nothing that made me feel at all tense, or spooked. so much for horror?
anyways, really unfortunate that this didn't go well, the cover is really cool and the description was interesting but alas, we can't all be winners.
May 12, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this audiobook for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
An intriguing premise and good imagery is what saves this book from being a 1 star read. Unfortunately, all of that is overshadowed by the general murkiness of what this book set out to do. It is marketed as a horror/historical thriller/M/M romance/mystery, but does not satisfyingly deliver on any of these notes. The horror is very understated and not unique, the historical background/setting is almost nonexistent (you could have told me this book took place in the 80's instead of the 1600s and I would believe you), there is little chemistry between our leads and absolutely no romantic payoff (not even one kiss!), and the main mystery is left unexplained.
It was frustrating to have my hopes dashed at every turn, and I echo another reviewer that said the writing felt jarring and impersonal. I simply did not care about any of the characters and their journeys.
An intriguing premise and good imagery is what saves this book from being a 1 star read. Unfortunately, all of that is overshadowed by the general murkiness of what this book set out to do. It is marketed as a horror/historical thriller/M/M romance/mystery, but does not satisfyingly deliver on any of these notes. The horror is very understated and not unique, the historical background/setting is almost nonexistent (you could have told me this book took place in the 80's instead of the 1600s and I would believe you), there is little chemistry between our leads and absolutely no romantic payoff (not even one kiss!), and the main mystery is left unexplained.
It was frustrating to have my hopes dashed at every turn, and I echo another reviewer that said the writing felt jarring and impersonal. I simply did not care about any of the characters and their journeys.
February 12, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC
3,5/5
Interesting story drawing a lot on fairy tales, as it promised. Filles with little symbolism and references, mystery and lunar cycle. There a few stories in there, the main one and earlier ones, used as tools to help us understand and get the atmosphere to settle in. For people very used to fairy tales and who have a read a lot of modern variation, the book won't be suprising or that new. Nonetheless, it works for what it wants to do, with a nice prose and enough characters and complicated relationships to keep a certain level of interest.
I struggled a bit with connecting to the characters, or caring for the story. Not that it's not interesting or well done, but something in the narration kept me at a distance.
All in all, a good fantastical historical novel, building slowly with a great atmosphere.
3,5/5
Interesting story drawing a lot on fairy tales, as it promised. Filles with little symbolism and references, mystery and lunar cycle. There a few stories in there, the main one and earlier ones, used as tools to help us understand and get the atmosphere to settle in. For people very used to fairy tales and who have a read a lot of modern variation, the book won't be suprising or that new. Nonetheless, it works for what it wants to do, with a nice prose and enough characters and complicated relationships to keep a certain level of interest.
I struggled a bit with connecting to the characters, or caring for the story. Not that it's not interesting or well done, but something in the narration kept me at a distance.
All in all, a good fantastical historical novel, building slowly with a great atmosphere.
March 17, 2025
Deerstalker tells the story of a traveler who wanders into a cursed village and the village outcast turned monster who haunts it.
Unfortunately, this book doesn’t know what it is. Is it a romantasy? In a way, but the love story is severely under-developed. It’s not insta love but it basically starts because Jacques is the first person to ever treat the victimized MMC with any bit of kindness. There is no passion, no banter, no deep vulnerable conversations. Is it a fairy tale retelling? Not any fairy tale I’ve ever heard of. Is it a mystery? I hope not because there is not a single satisfying reveal to be found.
What saves this from a 1-star rating is the setting- the Black Forest is fairly unique and nicely described, and good readability- it was easy to read in just a couple days.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Unfortunately, this book doesn’t know what it is. Is it a romantasy? In a way, but the love story is severely under-developed. It’s not insta love but it basically starts because Jacques is the first person to ever treat the victimized MMC with any bit of kindness. There is no passion, no banter, no deep vulnerable conversations. Is it a fairy tale retelling? Not any fairy tale I’ve ever heard of. Is it a mystery? I hope not because there is not a single satisfying reveal to be found.
What saves this from a 1-star rating is the setting- the Black Forest is fairly unique and nicely described, and good readability- it was easy to read in just a couple days.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
February 20, 2025
This would appeal to upper-middle grade and YA readers, as well as fantasy (in a more real world setting) readers.
I thought there would be more of a horror aspect to this book, so it was a little disappointing when it wasn't. The story did however flow quite well, minus a few tidbits that pulled me out a little bit.
Not much to complain about though! It was a cozy story of family and connection, about loving people not despite, but including what might be seen as "flaws".
The writing felt stiff in some places, but it wasn't so bad that I had difficulty continuing to read it, it was just a little startling.
Thank you NetGalley and Nicole M. Zaunbrecher for the ARC!
I thought there would be more of a horror aspect to this book, so it was a little disappointing when it wasn't. The story did however flow quite well, minus a few tidbits that pulled me out a little bit.
Not much to complain about though! It was a cozy story of family and connection, about loving people not despite, but including what might be seen as "flaws".
The writing felt stiff in some places, but it wasn't so bad that I had difficulty continuing to read it, it was just a little startling.
Thank you NetGalley and Nicole M. Zaunbrecher for the ARC!
February 13, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love the premise and the potential, but the text itself read a little younger than my preference.
I love the premise and the potential, but the text itself read a little younger than my preference.
April 5, 2025
'Deerstalker' is fine. Just fine. I didn't think it was anything particularly good or bad and I didn't have a good or bad time reading it. It felt incredibly young for some reason?
Thank you to NetGalley and Indigo River Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Indigo River Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read
April 21, 2025It had such an intriguing synopsis, but in the end it wasn't enough to keep my intrigue.
DNF @ 70%
DNF @ 70%
May 13, 2025
I had the opportunity to read this as an advanced copy by the publisher via NetGalley for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.
I really feel bad giving a debut book a poor review but I think I feel it is the only option as the book is very misleading in its summary and/or marketing. I requested this book as I enjoy several of the aspects promised in the summary: historical fiction, eerie magical realism horror, and lgbtqia stories. And unfortunately this story did not deliver on any of these premises. The book did not seem rooted in any historic period or research as it seemed to just decide it was in the 17th century for the small village vibes and distrust in the supernatural but seemed very modern in terms of how people acted and spoke. There is almost no gay tension or action between the two main characters that was teased. And the horror elements are peppered throughout the story but honestly are inconsistent and nonsensical in how they apply to the story. And I really must say it the story seemed very juvenile and like a middle grades book. If this was being marketed as a middle grades book I could give it 4 stars as then the story may be age appropriate.
I really feel bad giving a debut book a poor review but I think I feel it is the only option as the book is very misleading in its summary and/or marketing. I requested this book as I enjoy several of the aspects promised in the summary: historical fiction, eerie magical realism horror, and lgbtqia stories. And unfortunately this story did not deliver on any of these premises. The book did not seem rooted in any historic period or research as it seemed to just decide it was in the 17th century for the small village vibes and distrust in the supernatural but seemed very modern in terms of how people acted and spoke. There is almost no gay tension or action between the two main characters that was teased. And the horror elements are peppered throughout the story but honestly are inconsistent and nonsensical in how they apply to the story. And I really must say it the story seemed very juvenile and like a middle grades book. If this was being marketed as a middle grades book I could give it 4 stars as then the story may be age appropriate.
February 6, 2026
A haunting and hopeful tale
Set in a village cursed by death, this story reads like a slow-burning nightmare. Every new moon, a man becomes a beast, killing without mercy. The villagers tried everything to break the curse, but ended up resigning themselves to live with the horrors—if you can call that living.
Wendell has carried the curse from birth, knowing he will become a killer once a month. Feared and shunned, his life has been marked by cruelty.
This is a story about unflinching kindness and fear—about what happens when people turn against what they don’t understand.
The book isn’t the most polished in terms of writing, but it does a good job of exploring human nature. It filled me with sadness, yet there’s a point in Wendell’s journey where he’s no longer alone, where he dares to hope. And that hope, however fragile, is powerful.
I expected more horror, and I’m actually glad it wasn’t terrifying. Dark? Absolutely. But more than that, it’s about love, survival, and what truly makes a monster.
I loved Wendell’s resilience, Jacques’s bravery, and the Grandfather’s unwavering love. While I’d love to read more about their journey, the ending left me satisfied. A beautifully haunting read.
Thank you NetGalley and Indigo River Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. The book will be available on April 15th, 2025.
Set in a village cursed by death, this story reads like a slow-burning nightmare. Every new moon, a man becomes a beast, killing without mercy. The villagers tried everything to break the curse, but ended up resigning themselves to live with the horrors—if you can call that living.
Wendell has carried the curse from birth, knowing he will become a killer once a month. Feared and shunned, his life has been marked by cruelty.
“When I was young, I learned how to run away from the rocks other children threw at me.”
This is a story about unflinching kindness and fear—about what happens when people turn against what they don’t understand.
The book isn’t the most polished in terms of writing, but it does a good job of exploring human nature. It filled me with sadness, yet there’s a point in Wendell’s journey where he’s no longer alone, where he dares to hope. And that hope, however fragile, is powerful.
I expected more horror, and I’m actually glad it wasn’t terrifying. Dark? Absolutely. But more than that, it’s about love, survival, and what truly makes a monster.
“A parent who cannot love their child is more a monster than someone like us.”
I loved Wendell’s resilience, Jacques’s bravery, and the Grandfather’s unwavering love. While I’d love to read more about their journey, the ending left me satisfied. A beautifully haunting read.
Thank you NetGalley and Indigo River Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. The book will be available on April 15th, 2025.
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