Blacktail

by Scott Hawkins

A wolf sets out on an epic journey of revenge in this one-of-a-kind dark fantasy—the long-awaited second novel from the author of The Library at Mount Char.

The wolf Blacktail is faithful to his Forest God, but in these times, faith is not enough. His world is besieged by men. Soon his territory will be overrun, and then there will be nowhere left to go. When his mate, a house dog, is killed, Blacktail rebels. He invades the house of her owners, seeking vengeance.

Blacktail’s fury catches the notice of an ancient and terrible feline witch, who makes an offer. What if Blacktail could end the human race responsible for the death of his family and for the destruction of the natural world, altogether? To do so, Blacktail must find and wake the Forest God. Only He might stand against the plague of men. Blacktail knows that his north woods are dwindling to nothing. He sees no other choice.

As Blacktail journeys farther from his wild home and deeper into the world of man, he encounters strangers—animal, mortal, and otherworldly—who, for their own reasons, want to help Blacktail rid the world of humans. Along the way, it becomes clear that he is more than just a wolf. The Forest God is sleeping, yes. But what will be the price of waking him?

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Dark Fantasy, Animals, Adult, Dark

288 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

I'm forty-nine and I live in the Atlanta suburbs with my wife and a whole bunch of dogs.

Reviews

[Victoria Schwab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fucking hell.

[Mark Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

11 years since the wonderful The Library at Mount Char.



This is a very different book from TL@MC and also from almost every other book I know.

It does have strong vibes of Watership Down and The Plague Dogs, both by Richard Adams. The focus is on a particular wolf/dog half-breed, the eponymous Blacktail. And there is definitely an element of the chaotic/weird mythology that we saw in TL@MC. There is mention of the tiger Nobununga, and there are large scale mythology-level events/conflicts that echo the climax of TL@MC. But it's very definitely a different book without a single human point-of-view (that I remember).

Speaking of point-of-view: the book's written in an unusual style that's part fairytale/story telling and we do slide from one point-of-view to another in-paragraph on occasion. Also, we're given a handful of minor points-of-view alongside the main one (Blacktail).

It's an engaging tale that takes us in unexpected directions. It's at many times pretty gory with violence from and against animals. Although there's an over-riding "humans bad" message, it's delivered from an animal point-of-view and the harsh justice can seem ... harsh ... given the reader's greater (or different) understanding of the various encounters.

Like TL@MC there's a deeply uncompromising thread running through the story with harsh justice dispensed, the good/innocent suffering as they're variously steamrollered by chance, malice, or in the name of a greater cause.

The net effect is touching, horrifying, and entertaining. In many places it's impossible - as with any well written account of animals suffering because of our deeds - to not be moved. But the undercurrents of humour, and the wildly unpredictable paths Hawkins' imagination takes us down, mean that this is far from a mawkish look at animals enduring the cruelty of men.

It's one of those books I'll have to sit with to fully understand my feelings about it - but there's zero doubt that it's a 5* read, so I can hit the rating button right now.

You should all get excited for this book and hope that Mr Hawkins doesn't keep us waiting 10 years for another one.

It's very definitely a stand-alone though, so you'll not be left hanging. It's a completely complete story that has left me satisfied and with plenty to think on.



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[Jem]

ur telling me the author of library at mount char is releasing another book after TEN YEARS?? and it’s like a funky wolf pov?? we used to pray for days like these

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ An absolute unexpected delight! A unique work of speculative fiction that is such a breath of fresh air! So much was packed into a relatively short book but it never felt rushed. Instead there was an episodic or dreamlike quality to each chapter especially as we got closer to the end. The ending was the main reason I knocked half a star off. It was fine but it didn’t have me glued to the page like the rest of the book.

TW Cruelty & violence against animals are main themes and are portrayed liberally. If graphic depictions turn your stomach stay away!

[BrookieCookie]

My hopes and prayers have been answered. September can’t come soon enough.

[Becky Spratford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading for a future issue of Booklist

4.5

Three Words That Describe This Book: animal point of view, dark fantasy quest/journey, nature is not happy with us

First things first, this is not Library at Mount Char, it is very different but it is also very good. It is lyrical and fairytale/mystical. But it is also practical in many ways.

Blacktail, a wolf who is out for revenge against all humans, is the main narrator. He is not the only narrator, but he is the main one. No humans get the pov, only animals.

This book makes us humans look VERY bad. All of us. And Hawkins meters out judgement and punishment on all humans through Blacktail and there is no mercy. None. I cannot stress this enough. Even humans who we readers think don't deserve to die, will be brutally hunted by Blacktail. Animals are hunted too, but it all makes sense through Blacktail's world view-- which is very clear to readers.

To see him react to seeing "car" kill animals and leave them on the pavement -- killing just for fun and not a reason. To see the way he looks at houses, people's impact on the land. His reaction to pets who he calls slaves. How the animals work, interact and communicate and the spirits and witches that bind them all. It is riveting and original.

I also loved that Hawkins uses Blacktail's journey to break the story into vignettes. Each of his stops/passing through a new territory, gives readers the chance to meet new animal characters. The rhythm of this keeps the story moving at a good pace.

There is one "good human" here and kudos to Hawkins for sticking with the POV and Blacktail's sense of right and wrong because wow is it uncomfortable for the human reader.

Seething with rage and seeking vengeance -- appetite for revenge not satiated, only growing. This is a violent, in your face revenger novel.

The storytelling has a mystical/dark fairy tale feel.

Very similar to Watership Down by Adams in the storytelling, the dark fantasy, the environmentalism, but it is dark and filled with blood thirsty revenge of Pearl by Josh Malerman. A great mix of the two.

I thought about Lord of the Rings as well. Frodo's quest seems impossible but it is dire. Many will help or hurt him along the way.

[Laura Michelle]

Omg, OHH MAH GAWDDDD. You know sometimes I would randomly think "Library at Mt Char was such a banger, has he written anything else yet?", and then I would check and it would just be that darn Linux manual. NOT TODAY, I'm so excited.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟
Four stars

Title & Author: Blacktail by Scott Hawkins
Publisher: Crown Publishing
Page count: 288
Release Date: September 1, 2026
This book is for: those on whom the Warrior Cats series had an outsized impact as a child, mythology nerds, people ready to make a bunch of "?????" or "!!!!!" annotations.

A sincere thank you to the publisher for the ARC, provided in exchange for an honest review.

My flabbers were gasted when I saw this ARC arrive in my inbox. Everyone and their mother who is a fan of fantasy/mystery/existential horror has published a list of Books for Weirdos, and each of those lists is invariably topped by Scott Hawkins's first novel, The Library At Mount Char. That is exactly how I personally came across the book. I read it and felt like I was in a fever dream. I was utterly confused the whole time but I let Mount Char carry me along via lush prose and literary references. I was a willing but befuddled passenger, gently drowned in the rapids. I can't say that I loved Mount Char, exactly, but I can say it was a fucking experience. Considering the contemporary fiction scene right now, sometimes I don't even want to like a book - I just want it to do something new to me. Mount Char fit that bill.

So, again, a thrill up my spine when Blacktail landed on my shelf. I felt honored and expectant. It did not disappoint.

The plot is both easy and extraordinarily difficult to summarize: Blacktail is a wolf (?) of the north woods, and like all animals there, is dealing with the domination and encroachment of humans. He is vaguely faithful to an entity called Forest God, who seems to have receded as the power of men has risen. Blacktail meets and mates with a domesticated dog. When his mate & her puppies are killed by her owners, it kicks off a bloody journey of revenge. With the prompting of an ancient kitty cat witch, Blacktail journeys into the unknown to revive the Forest God and rid the world of humans. During his odyssey, he encounters creatures both mortal and divine, ruthless and docile, domesticated and wild, and learns the price paid for waking god from a His long sleep.

The whole book is utterly surreal.

There's the sublime prose you expect, plus a type of dark humor that I love.

There are moments of significant blood and gore; Blacktail is, more than anything a hunter. He is a practitioner of the Hunt (capitalization for emphasis). The Hunt venerates the Forest God. It is the natural way of things for beings to hunt and be hunted, and it is the mode of communication between creatures. Creatures that live without the language of the hunt - a literal language - are lost. Blacktail teaches this language to domesticated characters and, in turn, the domesticated reader. The narrative washes the human being holding the book clean with its violence and reminds us that, not so long ago, we were prey.

What I think of as the Scott Hawkins Special™️ is here, too. You get the sense that you are around a campfire, listening to someone tell the myths of an ancient culture that never actually existed. The author braids together the threads of several religious and cultural traditions while also managing to make the final product feel entirely new. Blacktail is a lick of flame up your arm, thunder rolling in the far distance, the unease you feel even inside your tent as you pull the sleeping bag up over your face because you've heard the crack of a twig breaking beneath an unknown paw outside.

I cannot avoid that there is also quite a bit of piss in here. We do endure passing references of wolf genitals and erections. No further commentary on that is needed, I don't think.

I can recognize when a book is probably not for me. I am not a fantasy fan; I struggle with fantastical plots, ambiguous tone, and existential wandering. Those are definitely present here. Like with Mount Char I often found myself confused, having to restart sentences or paragraphs to re-orient myself. This book is probably not for me. I don't know if I would have picked it up had I not known the author.

But I can also recognize when a book is absolutely extraordinary. Like I said, I don't always want to like a book. I value something new and strange that will stay with me after reading. I would pause reading Blacktail to do something else and felt cravings to dive back in. I had dreams about Blacktail as I was reading. I respect this book & I appreciate that it exists.

[Calynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the eARC of this novel!

I was ecstatic when I found out that Hawkins had written another book, as I absolutely loved The Library at Mount Char. And let me just say, Blacktail did not disappoint. Another genre blender FTW. This book is just as weird, fantastical, horrific and humorous as TLaMC but on a totally different level. Its blatant and obvious message will be appreciated by many (if you can stomach it).

In this story we follow a wild wolf called Blacktail during his epic, revenge driven journey and it’s pretty much all gas no breaks the entire time. I laughed, I gasped, I teared up…

Just as I was hoping, it’s woven with strange mythical fantasy vibes, set in the real world, with rich atmosphere and hilarious dialogue. The best part is that it’s all told from animal perspective and set in the wild.

This story was engaging from beginning to end and is not your typical dark fantasy book. Its graphic, vividly rendered gore lends the novel a horror like quality that I found to be incredibly effective. This is an unflinching and well executed tale of what would happen if animals decided that they’d had enough of us humans and our narcissistic claim on all the animals, lands and resources. I appreciated how unflinching and deliberate the message was. There were even a few parts of this that had me clutching my pearls and momentarily wanting to defend a few of the humans. It’s freakin brutal.

There’s so much more to unpack and take away but man this was good. The writing is beautiful. Animal loving horror fans need to read this.

Thank you Scott Hawkins for delivering another wild and unpredictable novel. Please don’t make us wait another 10 years again though?

[Y.N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Crown Publishing for the eARC

4,5/5

Well, "The library at Mount Char" was weird in the most positive sense of the word, and Hawkins second novel's, "Blacktail" follows right into its footsteps. Not with the same kind of weird and absurd though, but its very own.

We mostly follow Blacktail, a grieving wolf set on a quest for vengence. Blacktail isn't the only POVs. We get lynx, dogs, cats POVs too, to bring other aspect of the story forward, to see Blacktail from the outside, see his transformation as he travel farther and farther. It is strange, a bit dreamlike, but not really. Filled with humour and gruesome elements (don't read this if animal suffering is a strong trigger of yours).
The animals are animals, Hawkins do that very well, but still humanise them. With wives and husbands, marriage for life, these kind of stuff. And it works. Annoyed me a little because, well, that's a very human centered way of explaining relationship, but I could get over it.

I have to admit that some aspect of the story were a little too on the nose at times, especially the grander themes around humanity and its impact, its curelty. It almost read as satire at points, but veered right back into a more initiatic, quest type of story, with folktales elements.

Honestly, I don't know how to talk about this book. It shares similarities with the author first book, in the way it hooks you, plays with perspectives and your bias, enabling you to fill in the gaps when the animals' povs shows things in a different light, not understanding what they see. The metaphysical aspects are there, too, and I loved them as much as I hated some of scenes we see, with the violence.

Quite a feat of storytelling, once again.

[Jarrahlee Hurrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure I’ve ever read anything like this. Most of the story is following Blacktail, a half wolf as he seeks revenge for the death of his mate. The journey is bizarre and whimsical, full of bloody and horrific events.

This book would have me laughing at some kind of interaction between the animals, then horrified and shocked at the terror around the next chapter. I loved the unpredictability of literally everything. Cat witches was probably one of the best things he could have added! 😂

Behind Blacktails interactions are the ongoing issues of animals cruelty and invasion. I was 1000% rooting for the animals in every situation. My own doggo got lots of pets while reading this. I’m not sure I can even articulate this book, so give it a try. It’s magical, horrific, and so entertaining.

Thankyou NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Talking about Blacktail not knowing who his father was-
“His thoughts and expectations and possibilities were never bound by that knowledge. From such a beginning all things are possible”

[christina]

Oh I've been waiting for this!

[clicktojointhemafia]

Y'ALLLLLLLL IM SOOOOO DAMN READY (this book has been pitched as watership down and another thing i forgot but OMG YALL. THIS IS MADDDDD cause if u have watched watership down its so dark for a show about rabbits 😭😭)

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t say that I had “book about a wolf with the audacity to fight God” on my yearly bingo list, but god damn, this is a hell of a book.

When Blacktail, the lord and lone wolf of a stretch of forest bordering human lands, loses his mate Renren, a dog, to the cruel negligence of her owners, he makes a choice that will change not only his life but the world as he knows it. He seeks revenge and, in doing so, finds himself on a journey to wake the Forest God and end humanity.

This book is dark. It’s being marketed as both a dark fantasy and a horror, and I would say it lives up to that distinction. The story does not hesitate to depict a cruel world full of senseless violence. Moreover, a central theme of the book is Blacktail’s revenge—a vengeance so full of brutality that I constantly found myself questioning if he had gone too far. Interestingly, for a book that revolves around the relationships between humanity, nature, and animal life, there were many times in which the depiction of humans was completely fantastical, beyond the bounds of reality. Given there is more than enough material in all that humanity does to nature to fill a library’s worth of horror novels, it was an intriguing choice for the novel to put humanity’s worst foot forward, so to say. The themes of this book give the reader a lot to think about, from the depictions of spirituality to the morality of righteous vengeance taken too far.

The book is told, centrally, through vignette’s of Blacktail’s journey, often focused on the animals he encounters along the way, ranging from Hate, a lynx, who was the first to challenge his authority after the death of his mother, to Chester, a dog left starving and abandoned in the desert for whom Blacktail is the only possible salvation. I really liked this style of storytelling. Blacktail is an extremely complex characters; though his basic motivations are clear, who he is—both in terms of the world of the story and as a character—quickly become unknowable, his thoughts and actions shrouded in myth and tale. In this sense, the vignette style of story telling really contributed to the mysticism of the book; like reading the story of a prophet or cult leader through the eyes of followers. For me, it made the book utterly fascinating; I was completely hooked and read the whole thing in like two days. I will say that the ending of the book was a bit strange; in some ways, I wanted more from it, yet in other ways it felt right for the story.

All in all… this is a weird book. Saying I ‘enjoyed’ it is odd, because the book is challenging and brutal. It constantly left me questioning whether or not I could support Blacktail’s actions yet managed to make him a character who is easy to empathize with. There are times when the story feels like its spinning out of control and it’s hard to even understand what’s happening, and yet other times it is so grounded and real and heartbreaking. For these reasons, I can’t say I can necessarily recommend this to every reader; I imagine that some will find it very polarizing. I will say that, for fans of dark tales and animal protagonists, for readers of weird and often horrific literature, and for readers who like complex protagonists with the audacity to fight God, this book is absolutely for you. For me, it was a 4.5 out of 5-star book that I’ll be thinking about for a long, long time.

Thank you to Crown Publishing for providing a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Reneaue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a difficult novel to neatly summarize as its power lies less in plot than in the unsettling questions it raises. At its center is Blacktail, a wolf-dog hybrid orphaned early when humans slaughter his family. Survival itself becomes a kind of violence: there is not enough room, not enough prey, not enough balance.

Blacktail grows into a formidable "Hunter", feared by all the animals who live in the shadow of his mountain hill. Yet the story pivots when he encounters Renren, a dog chained and neglected by her human owners. Where others might see something broken, Blacktail sees beauty. He claims her as his mate and briefly imagines a future beyond his lonely struggle to survive. That fragile hope is brutally extinguished when Renren and their unborn pups are killed. In that moment, grief calcifies into purpose—Blacktail’s hatred of humanity becomes absolute, and revenge follows swiftly.

But Hawkins refuses to let the story remain a simple revenge tale. Blacktail expects immediate consequences, a reckoning that never comes. Instead, he is drawn into something larger and more mythic. The enigmatic "Old Kitty Mother" (an ancient witch-like feline) sets him on a path to awaken the "Forest God", a force meant to counter humanity’s “God of Reason” and restore balance to a broken world.

From here, the novel echoes classic fables and epics that explore the tension between the natural world and human dominion. Like Watership Down or even ancient myth cycles, animals are not merely animals...they are moral agents, vessels for human traits, hopes, and contradictions. Hawkins leans into this anthropomorphism not to soften the brutality, but to sharpen it. The violence is graphic, the suffering unflinching, and the costs of both survival and vengeance are laid bare for animals and humans alike.

What makes Blacktail linger is its refusal to offer clarity or comfort. Is this a tale of good versus evil, or simply a cycle of nature and humanity locked in perpetual correction, each capable of devastation? Even the gods themselves feel uncertain, divinity here is ambiguous, distant, and perhaps indifferent to the plight of their followers.

Hawkins suggests that courage exists in the heart of every being, but so too does the capacity for destruction. Blacktail’s journey ultimately blurs the line between victim and avenger. In becoming the instrument of what he believes is justice, he risks embodying the same unchecked force he set out to destroy.

In the end, Blacktail is less about revenge than transformation; and about the uneasy truth that restoring balance may require becoming something monstrous.

----------------------------------------
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Crown Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jacqueline Rackard · Rating 4 out of 5]

After his wife and children are killed by humans, Blacktail, a young, powerful wolf, unleashes a bloodthirsty revenge so profound that his name is uttered by all of the animals in the forest. And as men continue to intrude in his world and he is ruthlessly hunted, Blacktail vows to put an end to man's dominion over animals. With evocative descriptions of the natural world and powerful interactions between unlikely characters, Scott Hawkins weaves a tale of adventure and revenge that is filled with complex, round animal characters and with the quintessential story of good vs. evil.

The story opens with the story of Blacktail's life with his parents, as the threat of man's encroachment on their hunting grounds expands. Blacktail becomes a formidable warrior who is much feared in his realm, so much so that he is thought of as a god-like figure.

When he falls in love and marries Renren, he begins to feel a sense of completion and longs for a pack of his own. Renren's murder at the hands of her careless and cruel owners fuels Blacktail's rage and thirst for revenge that leads to the main plot line of the story. Along the way, Blacktail meets a cast of interesting and courageous animal and human friends who mostly function to encourage and support Blacktail's mission.

When Blacktail's fury permeates the natural world, an ancient witch- cat, Old Kitty Mother, proposes that Blacktail purge the world of men. Will Blacktail be able to complete his mission to eradicate their deadliest predator?

Hawkins blends graphic and gory depictions of violence with moments of humor and wonder. The animal characters are fully developed with complex thinking and deep reflective natures. Blacktail's savagery is extreme at times, but the reader is sympathetic to Blacktail's ordeal and for all that he and the other animals have lost.

Fantastical elements such a magical cats, angry gods, and dark forces add to the overall mood of despair, suspense and sorrow.
While the first 2/3 of the the novel is fast paced, with a balanced amount of world building, adventure and action, the last third of the novel becomes more convoluted as all of loose ends are attempting to get resolved. The introduction of more characters towards the end creates a weighed down effect.

The ending does provide insight into what comes after Blacktail which allows for a satisfying ending to the dark, devastating story of loss and destruction.

[delaney :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hawkins creates a really eccentric, atmospheric world in this novel that is unique to anything else I think I’ve ever read.

Blacktail reminds me a bit of Open Throat by Henry Hoke, in that the majority of it reads like a fever dream (more of a nightmare, actually), but with moments of quick wit thrown in strategically. I enjoyed what Hawkins did with religion and its impacts on both Man and animal. The interlaced themes of differing ‘sides’, the way humans relate to nature in all of their strange and unfortunate ways, the gritty, gory reality of the world our protagonist and his companions face…it’s all compelling in a way that’s oddly sympathetic. Even though at the end of the day, if you’re rooting for Blacktail you’re going against yourself…You know, with him wanting to wipe humanity from the planet and all.

With Blacktail, the leading wolf at the center of this story, the line between victim of circumstances and ruthless punisher is blurred into obscurity here. Blacktail is both a force of good, and something dark and twisted beyond understanding. How something can manage to be both humorous and grim and heavy is beyond me. The loss and determination that each of the animals face shows the darkest sides of human nature – the version of Man that takes without remorse, that mauls, disfigures, and kills without reason or mercy. But so, too, does it show the darkest sides of Nature in the moments where Blacktail takes his revenge on Man.

Blacktail is a well-written tale of grim determination that I enjoyed quite thoroughly. There were a few things here or there that were a bit much, or so out of left field that I had to squint at the pages for a few seconds before I was able to move on. A wild ride for sure. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy works that are more introspective than truly plot driven, folklore-y and past the point of bizarre into the delightfully absurd.

A sincere thanks to Crown Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as dark, strange, and utterly fascinating as the Library at Mount Char, Blacktail is a profoundly engaging return to form from this inimitable author.

Blacktail, a wolf / dog hybrid is driven to rage and revenge from the repeated abuses of humanity. Not only did humans (“two legs”) kill his mother and everyone else he ever got close to, they did so without honor or purpose. They don’t respect The Hunt or eat the things they kill like the beasts do. After one tragedy too many, Blacktail embarks on a blood soaked quest for vengeance; his aim being to wake the long slumbering Forest God and end the tyranny of humanity forever.

This was a remarkable book. From the prologue to the very last sentence I was invested to the hilt in a way that was unusual for me. Scott Hawkins has such a rich and twisted imagination, it’s a treat to live inside his worlds for a time. The writing makes you feel connected to the novel’s animal characters. You really feel as if you’re experiencing the world through their senses yet the author never anthropomorphizes too much. A subtle balance deftly executed. The story was paced superbly and punctuated judiciously with scenes of shocking violence and well delivered narrative twists. More remarkably still, the novel maintains this exquisite pacing and verve throughout its entire duration. There was no slouching mid-point, no superfluous denouement, everything was just as it should be.

Blacktail was a fantastic book. It’s one I’ll buy in hardcover and place right alongside The Library at Mount Char on my shelves where it will, hopefully, be joined by more literary gems from Scott Hawkins in the future. After reading two near perfect novels from him, I will read anything this author puts out until the day I die.

[Jensen McCorkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting, unforgettable read.

Without a doubt Blacktail’s premise that sounds completely unhinged. A grieving wolf trying to awaken an ancient god to erase humanity. Hawkins turned this premise into something mythic, horrifying, heartbreaking, and weirdly beautiful. What begins as revenge horror mutates into cosmic fantasy, then into something almost biblical in scale. Witches, gods, archangels, apocalyptic visions.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is that Hawkins never turns Blacktail into a human-like fantasy animal. He remains territorial, violent, instinct-driven, and undeniably wild from beginning to end. Yet his grief feels immense and painfully familiar. Every chapter carries the weight of loss in a way that feels raw and deeply affecting.

The atmosphere is phenomenal. The forests feel alive, every encounter crackles with tension, and there’s a constant sense of ancient power lurking beneath the surface of the story. The book has that rare dreamlike quality where scenes feel surreal while still hitting with emotional realism.

This definitely won’t work for everyone. It’s brutal, bizarre, and at times overwhelming, but in the best possible way. Readers who love dark fantasy with horror elements and stories willing to take massive creative swings will find a lot to admire here.

Overall, Blacktail is the kind of novel that completely consumes you while you’re reading it and lingers long after you finish. Dark, savage, strange, and unexpectedly emotional, it’s one of the most memorable books I’ve read in a long time.

[Kate Connell · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

One of the most unique books I have ever read? This entire book is from the POV of a wolf. If it hadn't been an ARC, I'm not sure I would have continued after the first few chapters, btu I'm glad I did. A one-of-a-kind journey and reading experience about the human (animal) experience.


Blacktail is a wolf faithful to the Forest God, but his faith doesn't stop his territory from being besieged by men. When he mates with a house dog and she is killed by her owners while pregnant with their litter, Blacktail seeks vengeance. An animal attacking a two-legs so viciously attracts the attention of an ancient and terrible feline witch, who asks Blacktail: What if Blacktail could end the human race responsible for the death of his family and for the destruction of the natural world, altogether?

To do so, he must find the Forest God, the only one who can stand against the plague of men. Blacktail sees no choice in the matter, the men are causing the woods to lessen, leading to less land for the various packs, and increasing death among the animals. The further Blacktail journeys, the more wonders he encounters, and aid comes from sometimes the most surprising of venues (one helpful hand is a 'two-leg'). As Blacktail's lineage comes into question again and again on the journey one wonders why he alone can wake the Forest God, and what the consequences of such an action may be.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After having just finished reading this marvel of a book, I am left with curious, twisting thoughts and a general weight in my chest.

Blacktail follows the eponymous half-breed wolf who is tasked on a journey to awaken the Forest God, the god of the hunt whom man has completely forgotten about and unable to understand. Humans are viewed quite negatively, our habits of destruction of nature, of forcing pets to eat, act, and be certain ways, and of general cruelty to animals are on full display. It is a call to examine how we (the human readers) treat the nature around us -- are we needlessly cruel and uncaring? are we out of sync with the cycle of nature? These thoughts weigh quite heavily.

The writing style of the book has frequent switches of points of view depending on whether other characters are with Blacktail. Prose-wise, it reads like a folktale with descriptions of profound questions and meanings sprinkled within to ponder about. There is a hint of magic, giving it an elevated fantasy feeling to the grounded horror.

Takeaway Thoughts:
* wow nature can be quite brutal (descriptive gore)
* Blacktail slowly has a mythos built around him
* reverence for the Old Kitty Mother
* unexpected meetings and results of said meetings
* ending made me go "Huh? Hmm..."

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Scott Hawkins, and the publisher Crown Publishing for giving me an eARC to read and review.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I waited ten years for Scott Hawkins to follow up The Library at Mount Char, and after finishing Blacktail, I can confidently say it was worth every minute of that wait.

The novel takes its time getting started. The first 20% is dedicated to laying the groundwork, introducing the world, and establishing the characters, so don't expect nonstop action right away. But once everything clicks into place, the story takes off and never really lets up.

Hawkins has an incredible talent for crafting stories that feel both deeply strange and completely immersive. The narrative is compelling throughout, and the occasional shifts in point of view only add momentum, revealing just enough to keep the pages turning. Every perspective serves a purpose and together they build a story that's equal parts heartbreaking, suspenseful, and awe-inspiring.

The characters are the true standout here. I loved all of them, but the Old Kitty Mother completely stole the show. She's one of those unforgettable characters who lingers in your mind long after you've finished the book. I would love a book on her adventures.

If you enjoy stories told from an animal's perspective, magical realism, speculative fiction, dark fantasy, or books that defy easy categorization, Blacktail deserves a place on your reading list. Scott Hawkins continues to prove that no one writes quite like he does.

Easily five stars. I only hope I don't have to wait another decade for whatever he writes next.

[Eric Lustbader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Animal spirits are alive and well in Scott Hawkins's magnificent fantasy of a world where animals talk to each other in hunter's dialect, and both Wolf and Lynx leave messages for those who come after that sound suspiciously like Japanese haiku - brilliant. Blacktail, the hero of this unputdownable novel, is half-wolf and half-who-knows-what. Despite his protestations to the contrary he is a magical creature whose long, arduous, and perilous journey south from his mountain home, is overseen by a mystical cat, Old Kitty Mother, who seems to be able to be anywhere she pleases anytime she pleases. Blacktail's coming of age starts with two tragedies that inform his journey to find the mythic Forest God, the only being, it seems, who can save the animasl from the terrifying encroachment of the two-legs: humans. The dialog between anumals is amazing, also, at times, very amusing. But this is not a light book. It has difficult issues on its mind. Being inside the minds of animals both wild and enslaved the reader comes face-to-face with the semingly unstoppable advancement of the human race, destroying everything natural in its path. The is a great novel -- a necessary one, as well. If I could give it six stars I would. Highest recommendation!

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blacktail may be the most unique novel that I've read so far this year. As a parent of young kids, I'm no stranger to books that place animals as the role of main characters, but this is a something entirely one of a kind. Hawkins plunges us as readers into a rich world, with hierarchies and systems that are as complex as the actual natural world. The blend of reality and fantasy is where the horror is built; the disturbing elements of this story are deeply rooted in reality and the ways in which our real human lives hurt the natural world around us. This makes the story challenging - our actions hurt animals, and the narrative pulls no punches in asking us to confront those truths. Despite this, it is very evident throughout the novel that Hawkins loves animals and appreciates the beauty of the natural world deeply. The characterization of "Car" is simply brilliant and not something I will soon forget. The pacing of the novel is meditative, largely character driven, and deeply contemplative. Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the chance to read this ARC and share my honest feedback!

[Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine book. The plot is way more linear and has less moving pieces than Library At Mount Char and I found myself missing that. A straightforward plot needs to then rely more on the variety. While there was a lot of creativity, the story never strays from a repetitive alternating between traveling and then meeting a new character. It's walk, talk, fight, walk, talk, fight. Because of that it felt long and a bit tedious to me. The story, though, is interesting and the ending wraps up nicely.

Unfortunately, I didn't find myself really becoming emotionally connected to any of the characters so I didn't care much about what happens to them. Despite the stakes being literally as high as they can get, I didn't feel the weight of it or get nervous about what might be coming. I wanted to keep reading out of curiosity more than being actually invested. It left me entertained but felt a bit flat to me overall.

Also I find his humor to be a bit cringe at times, but that's merely just a personal preference. I'm guessing most people would enjoy this read even though it didn't tick all the boxes for me. For reference I gave L@MC 4 stars and felt this one to be a bit watered down.

[Sara Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was unlike anything I've ever read.

A grieving wolf trying to awaken an ancient god to wipe out humanity sounds absolutely wild, but somehow it works. I really enjoyed that the story was told through the animals. The dialogue between the different species gave the story such a unique perspective and made the world feel surprisingly immersive.

The atmosphere is fantastic—the forests feel alive, there's an eerie sense of something ancient lurking beneath the surface, and the horror is pretty gruesome at times. Blacktail remains a true wild animal throughout the story, yet his grief still feels incredibly real.

My biggest complaint was the chapter length. They were long, and I found them a little demotivating, especially when I only had time to read a small section.

Overall, this definitely won't be for everyone. It's dark, brutal, emotional, and wonderfully weird, but if you enjoy horror with dark fantasy elements and stories that take big creative risks, it's worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley for my eARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

#netgalley #blacktail

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blacktail was a story I found almost impossible to put down.

The plot ranged from Watership Down level trauma (from a wolf’s perspective) to having me laugh out loud at times (think squirrel death cult). The main character and how he sees the world, interacts with other animals, and takes on the challenges of his journey were captivating.

It was fascinating to see how the human and creature world were so different in their faiths and treatment of nature. Even how cars were understood as being alive and the allies of the two legs. It made me stop and wonder how my dogs perceive their lives as being owned and collared (I think they’d agree with the beagle on loving their momma at least), losing their wildness and hunter status.

Great story, something new that is both wonderful and horrifying in equal measure. Not one to be missed.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Crown Publishing for a copy!

[litch! (cryptidcasanova) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review courtesy of an ARC provided by NetGalley

Somewhere around the halfway point of Blacktail, I grabbed my keys and drove straight to Barnes & Noble to finally purchase a copy of The Library at Mount Char. Mr. Hawkins, I was wholly unaware of your game. I will not make that mistake again.

Blacktail is a love letter to mythology in the spirit of Watership Down, packing a moral punch with each new perspective to be digested like one of Aesop’s fables. It weaves its way into your psyche with an irresistibly dark and whimsical prose that left me deeply attached to an unusual cast of characters all over the spectrum of this universe.

If you love the idea of a catabasis tale fraught with grief, revenge, Forest Gods, Old Kitty witches, and the ancient universal language of the hunt, Blacktail should be at the very top of your TBR this year.

[Matthew Kilpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Netgalley ARC]

First of all, I am just happy, after 11 years, to finally have another book by Scott Hawkins. It's clear that Hawkins is still a fearless writer, willing to dive deep into dark and uncomfortable territory. What rough beast, it's hour come 'round at last, slouches towards Bethlehem to be born? That rough beast is Blacktail, his story a warning and a reckoning. Blacktail is existentially unsettling and even more so when it begins to read like a religious text, with the titular character no longer a shown as a viewpoint character but solely seen through the eyes of others. This may be a book about talking animals, but it is decidedly more Beasts of Burden than Disney. Welcome back, Mr. Hawkins.

[keegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

kinda unclear how I feel about this. on the one hand it's incredibly un-subtle, it'd be hard for the Point to be hammered in any more ungracefully and Hawkins seems capable of using ambiguity only as a smokescreen, trying to obscure that exactly what you thought was going to happen is happening. and on the other hand it's well written, the characters are engaging and there's a really interesting blend of theology and mythology going on. it kept me engaged enough to finish it in one sitting and I think I'll check out Hawkins' previous book. I think if you were a warrior cats/silverwing kid, or if you're just a fan of weird fantasy and horror, give this a shot