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Beasts Beyond the River
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Alive comes a pulse-pounding horror novel set in 18th century colonial America amid a reimagined French and Indian War, in which a member of the legendary Rogers’ Rangers with indigenous ancestry must protect his father’s homeland from a vicious, unknown threat. Perfect for fans of historical horror and readers of Stephen Graham Jones, Daniel Kraus and Alma Katsu.
A brutal, gripping tale of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice set in a horrifying 18th-century Colonial America.
Amidst the brutality of the French and Indian War, an officer in the legendary Rogers’ Rangers is thrust into a nightmare that will challenge both his leadership and his lifelong quest to leave his father’s heritage behind. Lieutenant Geoffrey Rapelje is tasked with guiding a ranger detachment to his birthplace to preserve a fragile treaty between the British and his father’s people.
What Geoffrey finds is not the idyllic village of his youth, but a land—and a tribe—ravaged by a vicious, unknown force.
He and his rangers embark on a harrowing journey across a North American wilderness beset by violence, betrayal, and inexplicable terrors. To defeat a genocidal enemy, Geoffrey must embrace a dark truth he has long denied.
A brutal, gripping tale of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice set in a horrifying 18th-century Colonial America.
Amidst the brutality of the French and Indian War, an officer in the legendary Rogers’ Rangers is thrust into a nightmare that will challenge both his leadership and his lifelong quest to leave his father’s heritage behind. Lieutenant Geoffrey Rapelje is tasked with guiding a ranger detachment to his birthplace to preserve a fragile treaty between the British and his father’s people.
What Geoffrey finds is not the idyllic village of his youth, but a land—and a tribe—ravaged by a vicious, unknown force.
He and his rangers embark on a harrowing journey across a North American wilderness beset by violence, betrayal, and inexplicable terrors. To defeat a genocidal enemy, Geoffrey must embrace a dark truth he has long denied.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2026
About the author
Scott Sigler
134 books4,393 followersTHE CRYPT: SHAKEDOWN is Book I of a new five-book series. It’s out October 3, 2023 in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook narrated by Ray Porter.
iTunes by subscribing to his podcast.
#1 New York Times best-selling author Scott Sigler is the creator of fifteen novels, six novellas and dozens of short stories. He gives away his stories as weekly, serialized, audiobooks, with over 40 million episodes downloaded.
Scott launched his career by releasing his novels as author-read podcasts. His rabid fans were so hungry for each week’s episode that they dubbed themselves the “Junkies.” The first hit is always free …
He is also is a co-founder of Empty Set Entertainment, which publishes his Galactic Football League series. He lives in San Diego, CA, with his wife and wee little Dogs of Døøm.
iTunes by subscribing to his podcast. #1 New York Times best-selling author Scott Sigler is the creator of fifteen novels, six novellas and dozens of short stories. He gives away his stories as weekly, serialized, audiobooks, with over 40 million episodes downloaded.
Scott launched his career by releasing his novels as author-read podcasts. His rabid fans were so hungry for each week’s episode that they dubbed themselves the “Junkies.” The first hit is always free …
He is also is a co-founder of Empty Set Entertainment, which publishes his Galactic Football League series. He lives in San Diego, CA, with his wife and wee little Dogs of Døøm.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
September 14, 2026
I love a good historical fiction story and when you add in native culture and monsters you have me hooked.
This book takes its time unfolding the plot and finding out what the storyline is and that’s not a bad thing. This band of rangers has a wide variety of warriors in its ranks and you get to know what these men are made of. You really get to know what it was like during the French and Indian war in the 1700’s. Death awaits around every corner whether it be by starvation or by being scalped.
Just over the halfway point things go from bad to worse and all you can do is hold on and hope that at least one of the characters you like will survive all the way to the brutal end.
This book takes its time unfolding the plot and finding out what the storyline is and that’s not a bad thing. This band of rangers has a wide variety of warriors in its ranks and you get to know what these men are made of. You really get to know what it was like during the French and Indian war in the 1700’s. Death awaits around every corner whether it be by starvation or by being scalped.
Just over the halfway point things go from bad to worse and all you can do is hold on and hope that at least one of the characters you like will survive all the way to the brutal end.
August 27, 2026
DNF @ 84%
Excellent narrator
Enjoyed storyline however just became bored and didn’t care anymore at around 75%
Excellent narrator
Enjoyed storyline however just became bored and didn’t care anymore at around 75%
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I hate to give a low rating, but for the majority of this book, I felt like I wasn’t the target audience. It’s more historical/alt historical fiction for at least the first half. Supernatural aspects slowly come more into play after that point, but it’s still slower going. I just felt it was a bit dry overall and I don’t have the best attention span for such a detailed story. If you’re a reader who would like an epic about the French & Indian War, check this tale out!
Thank you anyways to the author, narrator, NetGalley, and RBmedia for a copy!
Thank you anyways to the author, narrator, NetGalley, and RBmedia for a copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
#gifted RBMedia and NetGalley
I've read almost every single book by this author, so I grabbed this without hesitation and expected to like it. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me very well.
The premise sounds amazing: a reimagining of a piece of violent history with horror and mythology intertwined. But what we get is a bunch of guys tromping around the forest trying to reckon their interpersonal issues and racism while being on the same team in the French and Indian War.
There's no horror or beasts until well in the book, like halfway!?!!?? So, yeah, the pacing is weird. So much text is dedicated to people's names and variations of names and so little to the context of conjuring of the beasts or the impacts on the land that disrupted it. The authors know in the beginning states how he tried to be as historically accurate as was appropriate to this fictional story, but I didn't feel like I was in a historical fiction novel. I wish there had been more about the war, more that made it feel more real.
So ultimately, it didn't satisfy how those genres should feel, and I didn't find it scary or creepy or anything.
As always, Ray Porter is perfect and does no wrong, though this audiobook certainly doesn't utilize his skills to his potential.
I've read almost every single book by this author, so I grabbed this without hesitation and expected to like it. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me very well.
The premise sounds amazing: a reimagining of a piece of violent history with horror and mythology intertwined. But what we get is a bunch of guys tromping around the forest trying to reckon their interpersonal issues and racism while being on the same team in the French and Indian War.
There's no horror or beasts until well in the book, like halfway!?!!?? So, yeah, the pacing is weird. So much text is dedicated to people's names and variations of names and so little to the context of conjuring of the beasts or the impacts on the land that disrupted it. The authors know in the beginning states how he tried to be as historically accurate as was appropriate to this fictional story, but I didn't feel like I was in a historical fiction novel. I wish there had been more about the war, more that made it feel more real.
So ultimately, it didn't satisfy how those genres should feel, and I didn't find it scary or creepy or anything.
As always, Ray Porter is perfect and does no wrong, though this audiobook certainly doesn't utilize his skills to his potential.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing and ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This book was really fun. Really dark as well. The story is set during the French and Indian War (1760s or so). The author makes it clear from the disclaimer at the start that while this is rooted in history, this is fiction. Some of the language has been adapted to a modern audience, and while there are mentions of real peoples, the main Native/First Nations people are fictional. Likewise, the author makes it clear that the 1700s was truly another world. There was just so much that did not yet exist: combat triage, bullets, asceptic technique, etc. The disclaimer really paints the picture of just how different the 1700s was from the understanding we have now of "war".
For anyone who enjoyed Earthcore, I highly recommend this book. First of all, it's pretty short. Only 13 hours which I personally blasted in 3ish days. The plot moved much quicker than Earthcore because of the length, but the spirit was similar. A group of people with vastly different backgrounds, personalities, skills, and desires has to work together to do something and in the process stumbles upon something unexplainable.
The characters were very lush. As is always the case with Sigler books, the people feel very real. There are always aspects of the characters that add a level of dimension such that you find yourself thinking "oh yeah, that's totally something Squirrel would do" or "yep, that's Larson for you". You get to know the characters beyond the first order of archetype. It makes balancing such a massive ensemble cast more manageable. I didn't struggle at all with who was who even with each character having what felt like 10 names.
The action delivered as always. Likewise when you know Scott is the type of author who will in fact murder his own main character the stakes feel very very high. The tension remained taut throughout. The sense of looming dread is matched by the brutal reality of what is happening and then incremented by what the characters have to do to prevail over the main conflict.
Ultimately, the only criticism I have is one of pace. Once the main conflict is revealed, the POV switches become frenetic and frequent. I felt towards the end that I was starting to drift a bit from some characters and wanting to stay longer with others. But once I reached the denouement, the ending felt satisfying.
This book's intrigue, bizarreness, and brutal conflict really kept me mainlining this. It was easy to get lost in. Easy to really enjoy.
This book was really fun. Really dark as well. The story is set during the French and Indian War (1760s or so). The author makes it clear from the disclaimer at the start that while this is rooted in history, this is fiction. Some of the language has been adapted to a modern audience, and while there are mentions of real peoples, the main Native/First Nations people are fictional. Likewise, the author makes it clear that the 1700s was truly another world. There was just so much that did not yet exist: combat triage, bullets, asceptic technique, etc. The disclaimer really paints the picture of just how different the 1700s was from the understanding we have now of "war".
For anyone who enjoyed Earthcore, I highly recommend this book. First of all, it's pretty short. Only 13 hours which I personally blasted in 3ish days. The plot moved much quicker than Earthcore because of the length, but the spirit was similar. A group of people with vastly different backgrounds, personalities, skills, and desires has to work together to do something and in the process stumbles upon something unexplainable.
The characters were very lush. As is always the case with Sigler books, the people feel very real. There are always aspects of the characters that add a level of dimension such that you find yourself thinking "oh yeah, that's totally something Squirrel would do" or "yep, that's Larson for you". You get to know the characters beyond the first order of archetype. It makes balancing such a massive ensemble cast more manageable. I didn't struggle at all with who was who even with each character having what felt like 10 names.
The action delivered as always. Likewise when you know Scott is the type of author who will in fact murder his own main character the stakes feel very very high. The tension remained taut throughout. The sense of looming dread is matched by the brutal reality of what is happening and then incremented by what the characters have to do to prevail over the main conflict.
Ultimately, the only criticism I have is one of pace. Once the main conflict is revealed, the POV switches become frenetic and frequent. I felt towards the end that I was starting to drift a bit from some characters and wanting to stay longer with others. But once I reached the denouement, the ending felt satisfying.
This book's intrigue, bizarreness, and brutal conflict really kept me mainlining this. It was easy to get lost in. Easy to really enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Historical fiction isn't usually a genre I gravitate toward, but Beasts Beyond the River completely pulled me in. I loved the premise of following a group of Rangers during the French and Indian War, including Indigenous men working alongside the British army, while horror elements slowly creep into the story.
The pacing is a little slow in places as the group makes its way through the wilderness, but those stretches allow for character development and give enough historical context that I never felt lost. The horror builds along the way, and I loved how seemingly unrelated pieces from earlier in the story eventually came together. It's a slow-burn horror story with a surprisingly healing payoff.
And when Scott Sigler gets disgusting, he gets disgusting. There is a scene around the middle of the book that is so vividly described you can practically experience it with every one of your senses. It was gross, horrifying, and incredibly well written.
I loved it.
Except the maggots. I can't do maggots. Gross.
And then there's Ray Porter.
I've listened to a lot of Ray Porter, and he's excellent as always. There are numerous characters with different backgrounds and accents, yet he switches between them effortlessly and I always knew who was speaking. I especially loved the distinction between the two Indigenous brothers, whose different experiences are reflected in the way Porter voices them.
His pacing during the action and chase scenes creates a real sense of urgency, and when the characters experience terror, horror, or complete disgust, you feel it right along with them. He doesn't just give characters different voices; he performs them.
Beasts Beyond the River was a really enjoyable blend of history, character development, supernatural horror, and some wonderfully disgusting imagery. Even as someone who doesn't normally reach for historical fiction, this one worked for me.
And if you need one more reason to listen rather than read it?
Ray Porter.
I received an advance listening copy of Beasts Beyond the River from RBmedia through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The pacing is a little slow in places as the group makes its way through the wilderness, but those stretches allow for character development and give enough historical context that I never felt lost. The horror builds along the way, and I loved how seemingly unrelated pieces from earlier in the story eventually came together. It's a slow-burn horror story with a surprisingly healing payoff.
And when Scott Sigler gets disgusting, he gets disgusting. There is a scene around the middle of the book that is so vividly described you can practically experience it with every one of your senses. It was gross, horrifying, and incredibly well written.
I loved it.
Except the maggots. I can't do maggots. Gross.
And then there's Ray Porter.
I've listened to a lot of Ray Porter, and he's excellent as always. There are numerous characters with different backgrounds and accents, yet he switches between them effortlessly and I always knew who was speaking. I especially loved the distinction between the two Indigenous brothers, whose different experiences are reflected in the way Porter voices them.
His pacing during the action and chase scenes creates a real sense of urgency, and when the characters experience terror, horror, or complete disgust, you feel it right along with them. He doesn't just give characters different voices; he performs them.
Beasts Beyond the River was a really enjoyable blend of history, character development, supernatural horror, and some wonderfully disgusting imagery. Even as someone who doesn't normally reach for historical fiction, this one worked for me.
And if you need one more reason to listen rather than read it?
Ray Porter.
I received an advance listening copy of Beasts Beyond the River from RBmedia through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me listen to the ARC audiobook for my honest review:
First: Ray Porter is a fantastic narrator! He was the reason that I asked to be chosen to listen to Beasts Beyond the River by Scott Sigler. He brings a depth that I would not have gotten while physically reading it.
Now to the story. It was a unique blend of historical fiction, Indigenous "folklore", and horror/fantasy. I don't want to give too much away in the story, but the first half of the novel was very much historical fiction. Set during the French and Indian War, it follows a troop of indigenous people mixed with other outcasts. The first half talks more about the characters and the war. Then the folklore and supernatural come in. Very interesting take on a war story.
There is a disclaimer in the beginning that explains that Scott Sigler chose to use certain common words that are used now for the weapons that they used, but the names would have been different during the time period it was set so that readers are not confused.The main tribe of indigenous people are not a real tribe, but are based on tribes during the time period. I appreciated this disclaimer because it helped me understand the story better. I could overlook certain things or assimilate easier to what was going on.
I DNFed another book during the time I listened to this because the other book used words from a different language and didn't give me a clue as to what they were referring to. This book said phrases in other languages and then explained what it meant to a character who did not speak the same language. It made this book that much stronger in my opinion. If I don't speak the same language, then I need to know what you just said if you want me to follow the story. Scott Sigler did that very well.
Would I recommend? Yes. It is a good historical fiction story mixed with supernatural elements.
First: Ray Porter is a fantastic narrator! He was the reason that I asked to be chosen to listen to Beasts Beyond the River by Scott Sigler. He brings a depth that I would not have gotten while physically reading it.
Now to the story. It was a unique blend of historical fiction, Indigenous "folklore", and horror/fantasy. I don't want to give too much away in the story, but the first half of the novel was very much historical fiction. Set during the French and Indian War, it follows a troop of indigenous people mixed with other outcasts. The first half talks more about the characters and the war. Then the folklore and supernatural come in. Very interesting take on a war story.
There is a disclaimer in the beginning that explains that Scott Sigler chose to use certain common words that are used now for the weapons that they used, but the names would have been different during the time period it was set so that readers are not confused.The main tribe of indigenous people are not a real tribe, but are based on tribes during the time period. I appreciated this disclaimer because it helped me understand the story better. I could overlook certain things or assimilate easier to what was going on.
I DNFed another book during the time I listened to this because the other book used words from a different language and didn't give me a clue as to what they were referring to. This book said phrases in other languages and then explained what it meant to a character who did not speak the same language. It made this book that much stronger in my opinion. If I don't speak the same language, then I need to know what you just said if you want me to follow the story. Scott Sigler did that very well.
Would I recommend? Yes. It is a good historical fiction story mixed with supernatural elements.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced audiobook copy of Beasts Beyond the River by Scott Sigler in exchange for my honest review.
I was drawn to this book because I’ve loved historical horror in the past.
The story itself felt like an alternative military history fiction first, and horror a distant second. It took until I was well over 50% through the book for anything supernatural or eery to happen at all. Even after it started happening, it took a long time for it to pay out and actually become horror. The pacing was off throughout the novel, and the day to day detail of the group of characters felt tedious much of the time. Characterization was not well established, and I felt like we rarely got much more than a surface level introduction to most of the characters. Only one or two felt fully fleshed out.
Some of that can be dismissed as just not being written to my taste, which is fine. Not every book is for every reader. But I’m puzzled as to why the author invented a fictionalized group of Native people for the story. I imagine because there is a massacre mentioned, he wanted to be able to simply attribute that to the horror aspects of the story, but I imagine that surely an actual group of Native Americans would make the story land a bit better. I’m sure research went into this book, but why not just consult with indigenous historians for tribes that actually were a part of the French and Indian War? Or better yet, write a fictionalized version of the French and Indian War and then make everyone fictionalized. The same way the A Song of Ice and Fire series is a fictionalized version of the War of the Roses, this could have been that for the French and Indian War. The mixing of reality with a huge license taken by inventing a whole group of people who didn’t exist seems like a strange line to straddle.
I was drawn to this book because I’ve loved historical horror in the past.
The story itself felt like an alternative military history fiction first, and horror a distant second. It took until I was well over 50% through the book for anything supernatural or eery to happen at all. Even after it started happening, it took a long time for it to pay out and actually become horror. The pacing was off throughout the novel, and the day to day detail of the group of characters felt tedious much of the time. Characterization was not well established, and I felt like we rarely got much more than a surface level introduction to most of the characters. Only one or two felt fully fleshed out.
Some of that can be dismissed as just not being written to my taste, which is fine. Not every book is for every reader. But I’m puzzled as to why the author invented a fictionalized group of Native people for the story. I imagine because there is a massacre mentioned, he wanted to be able to simply attribute that to the horror aspects of the story, but I imagine that surely an actual group of Native Americans would make the story land a bit better. I’m sure research went into this book, but why not just consult with indigenous historians for tribes that actually were a part of the French and Indian War? Or better yet, write a fictionalized version of the French and Indian War and then make everyone fictionalized. The same way the A Song of Ice and Fire series is a fictionalized version of the War of the Roses, this could have been that for the French and Indian War. The mixing of reality with a huge license taken by inventing a whole group of people who didn’t exist seems like a strange line to straddle.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a crazy, kind of bloody (but more like green goo and mist...), fantastical, horror filled story. This goes back several centuries and deals with a Lt. Geoffrey Rapelje, who is leading his troops back to his homeland... which he hasn't returned to for 10 years now. He has tried to distance himself from his American Native Background while trying to become the best of the best in the Rangers Platoon. Along the way, he meets up with friend and foe... and some more than mystical beings. And, his old friend, Squirrel, 'sees' things that Geoffrey does not want to see or believe. It seems to root back to his ancestors and their stories. But he doesn't believe in that stuff anymore!
And so, as time goes on, and more and more crazy things happen... Geoffrey comes to rely on and trust some of his core rangers, as well as a few friends he's made along the way...
But the one he does not like or trust, becomes a bit of a problem. Especially when they realize just what he has been after all this time.
This one blends reality with supernatural and mystical creatures and brings forth blood and gore and so much more.
4 fantastical, magical, scary, beast-laden stars for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#BeastsBeyondTheRiver by @ScottSigler and narrated nicely by @RayPorter.
*** This one has not been released yet, but look 👀 for it on 9.22.26!! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @RBMedia and @RecordedBooks for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
And so, as time goes on, and more and more crazy things happen... Geoffrey comes to rely on and trust some of his core rangers, as well as a few friends he's made along the way...
But the one he does not like or trust, becomes a bit of a problem. Especially when they realize just what he has been after all this time.
This one blends reality with supernatural and mystical creatures and brings forth blood and gore and so much more.
4 fantastical, magical, scary, beast-laden stars for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#BeastsBeyondTheRiver by @ScottSigler and narrated nicely by @RayPorter.
*** This one has not been released yet, but look 👀 for it on 9.22.26!! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @RBMedia and @RecordedBooks for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing a digital review copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review
I requested this arc because I had never read a book by Scott Sigler before, but heard so many good things. Then I saw that the audiobook narration was done by Ray Porter, who is a fantastic narrator, so I guessed that this was the sign for me to finally read a book by this author. The book starts with a little information/context to understand the book better, which helped a lot for someone not super familiar with history. I found this a pretty interesting book. The first half of the book is leaning very much towards the historical fiction side of the story, while the second half has more horror themes. I think this is a great book, but I don't think it's the right book for me, as I felt very detached from the story and the characters. I found it very interesting to learn about history, and the story felt authentic, but I did not care for the characters nor their fate. Whether they lived or died mattered little to me, and that made the suspense of their fates disappear. I feel like the book is told in such a matter-of-fact, informational tone, that it felt like listening to a history documentary instead of feeling any kind of emotion. This is not to blame on the narration, which was absolutely stellar by the way. That being said, I think the writing is good and if you enjoy historical fiction with some horror elements about 18th century Colonial America, this might be the book for you.
I requested this arc because I had never read a book by Scott Sigler before, but heard so many good things. Then I saw that the audiobook narration was done by Ray Porter, who is a fantastic narrator, so I guessed that this was the sign for me to finally read a book by this author. The book starts with a little information/context to understand the book better, which helped a lot for someone not super familiar with history. I found this a pretty interesting book. The first half of the book is leaning very much towards the historical fiction side of the story, while the second half has more horror themes. I think this is a great book, but I don't think it's the right book for me, as I felt very detached from the story and the characters. I found it very interesting to learn about history, and the story felt authentic, but I did not care for the characters nor their fate. Whether they lived or died mattered little to me, and that made the suspense of their fates disappear. I feel like the book is told in such a matter-of-fact, informational tone, that it felt like listening to a history documentary instead of feeling any kind of emotion. This is not to blame on the narration, which was absolutely stellar by the way. That being said, I think the writing is good and if you enjoy historical fiction with some horror elements about 18th century Colonial America, this might be the book for you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a great book. Without giving away any plot items, Scott has created a story set at the end of the French and Indian War with a well-developed group of characters. I see many similarities in style between Mr. Sigler and Tom Clancy - and I have been a Clancy fan for decades. The early parts of the novel take time to really get into some of the details of woodland warfare for this time period, and it was obvious from the beginning that Scott took some time to really research the weaponry and tactics of the time period. As the novel goes on the action really picks up, also in a very Clancy-esque way.
Between the supernatural elements and some almost superhero elements to some characters, there is definitely a slight air of unrealism, but because the entire setup involves supernatural elements, I found that they felt natural in this story.
My advance copy was an audiobook narrated by Ray Porter, and it was masterfully narrated. There were many elements in foreign languages, including a fictional language from a fictional Native American tribe, and Mr. Porter obviously had taken time to practice all of those phrases because everything flowed smoothly. Mr. Porter voiced everything well, so that each character was easily distinguished, and his command of voices is superb. I would actually rate this as one of the best narrations I have heard, given some of the added difficulties added by having multiple languages involved.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and highly recommend it.
Between the supernatural elements and some almost superhero elements to some characters, there is definitely a slight air of unrealism, but because the entire setup involves supernatural elements, I found that they felt natural in this story.
My advance copy was an audiobook narrated by Ray Porter, and it was masterfully narrated. There were many elements in foreign languages, including a fictional language from a fictional Native American tribe, and Mr. Porter obviously had taken time to practice all of those phrases because everything flowed smoothly. Mr. Porter voiced everything well, so that each character was easily distinguished, and his command of voices is superb. I would actually rate this as one of the best narrations I have heard, given some of the added difficulties added by having multiple languages involved.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and highly recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Beasts Beyond the River by Scott Sigler 🩸🌲
Are you ready to venture into a dark, unforgiving wilderness where the worst monsters might not just be the ones hiding in the trees? From 1 New York Times bestselling author Scott Sigler, Beasts Beyond the River is a masterclass in historical horror that will leave you absolutely breathless!
Set against the brutal backdrop of colonial America during the French and Indian War, the story follows an officer in the legendary Rogers’ Rangers. Thrust into a waking nightmare, he must lead his men through a savage, violence-torn landscape while wrestling with his own dark family legacy. But as they cross the frontier’s boundary, they realize they have stepped into something far worse than human warfare.
Sigler completely strips away the safety net in this book. It is thick, gritty, and deeply terrifying. The historical detail is meticulously researched, capturing the raw, claustrophobic dread of the early American frontier—and then infusing it with supernatural, blood-chilling terror. It’s a tale of courage, extreme sacrifice, and absolute survival against a genocidal enemy that won’t stop until everything is consumed.
If you love your historical fiction with a massive dose of nightmare-inducing horror, do not miss this absolute banger published by Titan Books. Release date is 09/22/2026! Preorder your book today!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
Are you ready to venture into a dark, unforgiving wilderness where the worst monsters might not just be the ones hiding in the trees? From 1 New York Times bestselling author Scott Sigler, Beasts Beyond the River is a masterclass in historical horror that will leave you absolutely breathless!
Set against the brutal backdrop of colonial America during the French and Indian War, the story follows an officer in the legendary Rogers’ Rangers. Thrust into a waking nightmare, he must lead his men through a savage, violence-torn landscape while wrestling with his own dark family legacy. But as they cross the frontier’s boundary, they realize they have stepped into something far worse than human warfare.
Sigler completely strips away the safety net in this book. It is thick, gritty, and deeply terrifying. The historical detail is meticulously researched, capturing the raw, claustrophobic dread of the early American frontier—and then infusing it with supernatural, blood-chilling terror. It’s a tale of courage, extreme sacrifice, and absolute survival against a genocidal enemy that won’t stop until everything is consumed.
If you love your historical fiction with a massive dose of nightmare-inducing horror, do not miss this absolute banger published by Titan Books. Release date is 09/22/2026! Preorder your book today!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Scott Sigler has been on my radar since his short story "The Hippo" in the V-Wars anthology.
This is probably the best thing he's done, in my opinion.
An epic tale that takes place during the French and Indian War, following Roger's Rangers into the dark side of Native American legends.
I had the absolute pleasure of reading the audiobook, narrated by Ray Porter. I've listened to his voice in a good number of books before, but he too has outdone himself. A slew of accents: Tuscan, Native American, British, Irish, French, Brazilian. What a great job that man has done. And a familiar voice from having listened to so many Jonathan Maeberry audiobooks, it was like a brutally cozy read.
Scott tells the story of the Rangers in a way that felt natural and even with the world building and different languages and cultures, was easy to follow.
I really enjoyed this one, Scott!
No deep insight from me on this one. Just cherish the people you love and embrace found family. They're often the ones who will have your back when monstrous moose come to kill you.
This is probably the best thing he's done, in my opinion.
An epic tale that takes place during the French and Indian War, following Roger's Rangers into the dark side of Native American legends.
I had the absolute pleasure of reading the audiobook, narrated by Ray Porter. I've listened to his voice in a good number of books before, but he too has outdone himself. A slew of accents: Tuscan, Native American, British, Irish, French, Brazilian. What a great job that man has done. And a familiar voice from having listened to so many Jonathan Maeberry audiobooks, it was like a brutally cozy read.
Scott tells the story of the Rangers in a way that felt natural and even with the world building and different languages and cultures, was easy to follow.
I really enjoyed this one, Scott!
No deep insight from me on this one. Just cherish the people you love and embrace found family. They're often the ones who will have your back when monstrous moose come to kill you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Beasts Beyond the River by Scott Sigler has a really interesting premise, especially once the supernatural and creature horror elements start coming into play. I liked the wilderness setting, the darker folklore elements, and the way the story eventually becomes much stranger and more violent than it initially appears.
For me, though, the historical and military side of the book took up a little too much space compared to the horror. There’s a lot of detail around the French and Indian War, the Rangers, the different groups involved, and the journey itself, and at times it felt more like historical military fiction with horror layered into it than a horror novel. I can appreciate the amount of research and worldbuilding that went into it, but the pacing dragged for me in places.
The later creature material was much more in line with what I was hoping for, and Ray Porter’s narration was excellent throughout. I think readers who enjoy detailed historical fiction, military stories, and horror together will probably get more out of this than I did.
Rating: 3/5.
For me, though, the historical and military side of the book took up a little too much space compared to the horror. There’s a lot of detail around the French and Indian War, the Rangers, the different groups involved, and the journey itself, and at times it felt more like historical military fiction with horror layered into it than a horror novel. I can appreciate the amount of research and worldbuilding that went into it, but the pacing dragged for me in places.
The later creature material was much more in line with what I was hoping for, and Ray Porter’s narration was excellent throughout. I think readers who enjoy detailed historical fiction, military stories, and horror together will probably get more out of this than I did.
Rating: 3/5.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced audiobook copy of Beasts Beyond the River by Scott Sigler in exchange for my honest review.
This was a wild, fast-paced, and creepy audiobook that kept me completely entertained. Scott Sigler does a great job of building tension and creating an atmosphere where danger always feels close. I loved the sense of unease throughout the story and how the suspense kept building as things became increasingly more intense.
The audiobook narration added so much to the experience and made the story even more immersive. I found myself wanting to keep listening just to see what would happen next. There were plenty of creepy moments, tension, and enough twists to keep me invested until the end.
Overall, Beasts Beyond the River was an entertaining and unsettling listen. If you enjoy creature horror, suspense, and fast-paced stories that keep you on edge, this is definitely one to check out!
This was a wild, fast-paced, and creepy audiobook that kept me completely entertained. Scott Sigler does a great job of building tension and creating an atmosphere where danger always feels close. I loved the sense of unease throughout the story and how the suspense kept building as things became increasingly more intense.
The audiobook narration added so much to the experience and made the story even more immersive. I found myself wanting to keep listening just to see what would happen next. There were plenty of creepy moments, tension, and enough twists to keep me invested until the end.
Overall, Beasts Beyond the River was an entertaining and unsettling listen. If you enjoy creature horror, suspense, and fast-paced stories that keep you on edge, this is definitely one to check out!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(4.5 Stars)
Thank you to #NetGalley for making this book available to read and review.
Scott Sigler and Ray Porter is a great combination! If you are familiar with Scott Sigler, you know that this is going to be a good book, told in a way only Scott can tell. If you aren't familiar with Scott Sigler, (1) you should be lol, and (2) This is a good book, but more of a slow burn compared to a lot of his books. So, read this, but read something like Earthcore too!
This is not your typical "Slasher" horror, although there is a lot of gore, it isn't the star of the show. It is more of a "John Carpenter" Horror where you are slowly brought to speed and get to see the Who, What, Where, Why, and When of the promised horrors. It is a little slow, but it is worth it.
Sigler is an expert craftsman with creating characters, and Ray porter has the same expertise at bringing characters to life.
Thank you to #NetGalley for making this book available to read and review.
Scott Sigler and Ray Porter is a great combination! If you are familiar with Scott Sigler, you know that this is going to be a good book, told in a way only Scott can tell. If you aren't familiar with Scott Sigler, (1) you should be lol, and (2) This is a good book, but more of a slow burn compared to a lot of his books. So, read this, but read something like Earthcore too!
This is not your typical "Slasher" horror, although there is a lot of gore, it isn't the star of the show. It is more of a "John Carpenter" Horror where you are slowly brought to speed and get to see the Who, What, Where, Why, and When of the promised horrors. It is a little slow, but it is worth it.
Sigler is an expert craftsman with creating characters, and Ray porter has the same expertise at bringing characters to life.
September 22, 2026
I listened to an ARC audiobook version of this story.
If I could, I would give this a 6th star it was that great of a story. Set during the French and Indian war we follow a small gourd of Rogers’ Rangers on a mission that will soon become terrifying. What follows is a good old fashioned twisted and terrifying adventure that has an great ending.
Scott knows how to mix great characters and a great story into something magical and he has done it again with this story. It is now my favorite of all his books so far.
If you can, get the audiobook version of this story with Ray Porter as the narrator. He was just incredible. He made this story come to life like no other person could. Each character’s voice is distinct and the accents he does for some of them are unmatched.
I cannot recommend this book and especially the audiobook enough.
If I could, I would give this a 6th star it was that great of a story. Set during the French and Indian war we follow a small gourd of Rogers’ Rangers on a mission that will soon become terrifying. What follows is a good old fashioned twisted and terrifying adventure that has an great ending.
Scott knows how to mix great characters and a great story into something magical and he has done it again with this story. It is now my favorite of all his books so far.
If you can, get the audiobook version of this story with Ray Porter as the narrator. He was just incredible. He made this story come to life like no other person could. Each character’s voice is distinct and the accents he does for some of them are unmatched.
I cannot recommend this book and especially the audiobook enough.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*thank you netgalley for the ALC so i was able to listen and give my honest review*
Narrator 4 stars loved his voice and flow/speed
Story 3 stars
So i was kind of torn with reviewing this book because there was times were i felt to was going so slow and then other times i felt so into the story. The story is semi based off history facts (writer mentions in beginning it wasnt 100% real) and i loved that even when they spoke a native american lanuage they translated for us. I read books were they just threw you out there to figure it out. The story revolves around a group of troops who arent your normal bunch. Mixed with native americans and other races. This is a slower burn so be prepared for some slow part but i did like it.
Narrator 4 stars loved his voice and flow/speed
Story 3 stars
So i was kind of torn with reviewing this book because there was times were i felt to was going so slow and then other times i felt so into the story. The story is semi based off history facts (writer mentions in beginning it wasnt 100% real) and i loved that even when they spoke a native american lanuage they translated for us. I read books were they just threw you out there to figure it out. The story revolves around a group of troops who arent your normal bunch. Mixed with native americans and other races. This is a slower burn so be prepared for some slow part but i did like it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was fortunate enough to get an audiobook of this one from NetGalley before it’s official release date. It’s been a minute since I got into one of Sigler’s work and thought it was high time to reengage. I’m glad I did because Scott never disappoints. As a matter of fact, I think this is some of his best work yet.
Plenty of action and violence, an intriguing historical setting (even with the liberties taken mentioned in the preface) and a well-developed and drawn-out cast of characters. I dug everything about this one.
Plus it was narrated by Ray Porter, who is absolutely one of my favorite audiobook narrators. Dude killed it as usual and always brings depth and perfect pacing to his work.
4+ Stars and Highly Recommended! I need to read me some more Sigler. Like soon.
Plenty of action and violence, an intriguing historical setting (even with the liberties taken mentioned in the preface) and a well-developed and drawn-out cast of characters. I dug everything about this one.
Plus it was narrated by Ray Porter, who is absolutely one of my favorite audiobook narrators. Dude killed it as usual and always brings depth and perfect pacing to his work.
4+ Stars and Highly Recommended! I need to read me some more Sigler. Like soon.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Net Galley and the author for providing an Arc Audiobook.
I’ve followed Scott Sigler since he released Earthcore as a weekly podcast (over 20 years ago!). Add Ray Porter as the narrator and I couldn’t resist. This one is dark. I enjoyed the historical fiction aspect, immersing the reader in the messy/primitive 1760s. Then halfway through the story becomes creepy, filled with Native American folklore. There’s quite a bit of blood and gore, so be prepared. I love Scott’s writing and I adore Ray’s narration. This was a bit darker than I expected, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
I’ve followed Scott Sigler since he released Earthcore as a weekly podcast (over 20 years ago!). Add Ray Porter as the narrator and I couldn’t resist. This one is dark. I enjoyed the historical fiction aspect, immersing the reader in the messy/primitive 1760s. Then halfway through the story becomes creepy, filled with Native American folklore. There’s quite a bit of blood and gore, so be prepared. I love Scott’s writing and I adore Ray’s narration. This was a bit darker than I expected, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This novel is set in 18th century Colonial America. There is brutality in war and Roger’s Rangers are ordered to travel to their leader’s birthplace. Geoffrey Rapelje is going to his old home he left and rejected the beliefs of his father and people. A terribly dangerous journey but will be nothing compared to what they will find when they get there. Terror and death.
Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Very good characters in a fast paced, complex, mysterious, action packed novel. Heritage should always be respected and family protected.
Really enjoyed every page of this novel of faith, family, commitment, honour and respect.
Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Very good characters in a fast paced, complex, mysterious, action packed novel. Heritage should always be respected and family protected.
Really enjoyed every page of this novel of faith, family, commitment, honour and respect.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am an avid Scott Sigler fan. I've read all of his novels and probably most of his short stories (i'm sure there are a few i've missed, but i'll get to them eventually). BEASTS BEYOND THE RIVER is a bit different than a majority of Scott Sigler's other stories. I'm not really a fan of stories set in the past, but I was able to enjoy reading this book. The characters were well written and I liked reading from the various points of view. Like a lot of Scott Sigler's stories, there is a touch of the supernatural mixed in with all the action. Overall a great read.
October 15, 2026
I was really looking forward to a new Scott Sigler book. It is sad for me to say that this book was really uninspired. I felt like I just read a rejected first draft that got published anyway. It was disjointed and spent 75% of the book explaining the meaning of Kapanoka names. Then mystical, not scary monsters doing, not scary things. My head hurts. I know Scott has a vast and loyal following. I, myself, waited to pick up a signed copy. I do not understand the number of high ratings for this book. Gave it 2 stars . 1 1/2 of them are for me finishing it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Beasts Beyond the River is a story about the French and Indian War. You've got Army Rangers, several different fictional and non-fictional Native American tribes, the English and the French. Throw in a supernatural aspect and you have this audiobook, brought to life with feeling by Ray Porter.
Action packed with a large cast of characters, the themes of greed, finding yourself, and true brotherhood wind throughout. How could you go wrong? Kudos to Ray Porter for pronouncing so many difficult names and words, he's amazing!
There are a lot of gory bits and some animal deaths; war is a difficult and brutal thing. However none of it felt gratuitous to me.
Scott Sigler and Ray Porter make a great team!
*ARC from RBmedia/Recorded Books.
Action packed with a large cast of characters, the themes of greed, finding yourself, and true brotherhood wind throughout. How could you go wrong? Kudos to Ray Porter for pronouncing so many difficult names and words, he's amazing!
There are a lot of gory bits and some animal deaths; war is a difficult and brutal thing. However none of it felt gratuitous to me.
Scott Sigler and Ray Porter make a great team!
*ARC from RBmedia/Recorded Books.
September 22, 2026
I've not read Scott Sigler books for a few years and I'm glad I got to read this . This is different from Scott but well worth the time. With different POV this was an engaging story that kept me hooked. The characters were well drawn and the plot moved along nicely. Scott's at his best with the horror elements but overall I would recommend this book. Thanks to Titan Books and Netgalley for this review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Arc from NetGalley
Fast paced. Action packed. Engaging characters. This was one of the best historical horror novels that I've read/ listened to in ages. The audio book is narrated by Ray Porter,and he was outstanding!
Fast paced. Action packed. Engaging characters. This was one of the best historical horror novels that I've read/ listened to in ages. The audio book is narrated by Ray Porter,and he was outstanding!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Scott Sigler has written some books I love and Ray Porter is one of my favorite narrators so I was excited when NetGalley approved me for this. It's certainly a well told historical suspense story, but it's not my favorite by Sigler because I felt like I was learning too much.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 🌟 rounded up. I loved both the historical fiction and the horror aspects of this book. Sigler did a wonderful job of balancing the two. Ray Porter is a fanatic narrator!
Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Found it to be very slow and drawn out. For those that truly enjoy war stories this is for you. Not so much horror more disturbing with the descriptions of death.
September 24, 2026
4.75⭐️
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