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Blacktail
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26A 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?
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?
288 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 1, 2026
About the author
Scott Hawkins
8 books3,493 followersI'm forty-nine and I live in the Atlanta suburbs with my wife and a whole bunch of dogs.
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May 16, 2026
Fucking hell.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
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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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.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
.
Want to Read
January 30, 2026ur 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
June 16, 2026
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!
TW Cruelty & violence against animals are main themes and are portrayed liberally. If graphic depictions turn your stomach stay away!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review in the July 2026 issue of Booklist and on the blog: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2026/07... (link live on 7/8/26 at 7am central)
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 revenge 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.
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 revenge 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.
Want to Read
January 23, 2026My hopes and prayers have been answered. September can’t come soon enough.
Want to Read
May 8, 2026Omg, 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.
July 16, 2026
4.5
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.
Honestly the only part that didn’t fully resonate with me was the ending. It felt a little rushed and didn’t quite bring everything together the way I expected but overall I absolutely loved this reading experience.
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?
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.
Honestly the only part that didn’t fully resonate with me was the ending. It felt a little rushed and didn’t quite bring everything together the way I expected but overall I absolutely loved this reading experience.
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?
Want to Read
July 8, 2026Dear Mr. Hawkins,
I’ve waited 11 years for this.
Thank you.
How dare you.
But mostly thank you.
I’ve waited 11 years for this.
Thank you.
How dare you.
But mostly thank you.
July 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While I did not read The Library at Mount Char, I have heard much about it and when I saw that Scott Hawkins had a new book on NetGalley, I requested it immediately.
I will admit, I am somewhat of a misanthropist, and so the synopsis of this book resonated with me. I struggle deeply with the way in which humanity has narcissistically overrun this planet in which we share with other living beings. We, as a species, have demonstrated complete disregard for the homes, resources, and lives of animals we have deemed lesser. We invade and destroy their homes, hunt them for sport, drain their resources, and kill them when they are deemed a nuisance to us. We have fundamentally lost the spirit of the hunt. This is, at the crux, what this novel is about.
This is a beautifully haunting story about Blacktail, a half wolf, that embodies the spirit of the hunt after the murder of his mate at the hands of men. I relished experiencing the POV of the animal kingdom, in seeing the way they must view us as dangerous and careless creatures. I felt that the message was well executed and brutally portrayed. While the story does take on a mythical quality, it has no shortage of brutality and gore, both towards humans and animals. There are violent deaths and they are described with unflinching cruelty.
There were moments in the story where I felt so shocked or emotional that I had to put the book down to gather myself, which is not something that happens often. This book was beautiful, heartbreaking, and unapologetic all at once. It will will haunt me for a long time. I don't want to share more because I don't want to ruin the mythos of Blacktail's adventure.
In the end, what if we had never forgotten the language of the hunt? More importantly, what happens now that we already have?
While I did not read The Library at Mount Char, I have heard much about it and when I saw that Scott Hawkins had a new book on NetGalley, I requested it immediately.
I will admit, I am somewhat of a misanthropist, and so the synopsis of this book resonated with me. I struggle deeply with the way in which humanity has narcissistically overrun this planet in which we share with other living beings. We, as a species, have demonstrated complete disregard for the homes, resources, and lives of animals we have deemed lesser. We invade and destroy their homes, hunt them for sport, drain their resources, and kill them when they are deemed a nuisance to us. We have fundamentally lost the spirit of the hunt. This is, at the crux, what this novel is about.
This is a beautifully haunting story about Blacktail, a half wolf, that embodies the spirit of the hunt after the murder of his mate at the hands of men. I relished experiencing the POV of the animal kingdom, in seeing the way they must view us as dangerous and careless creatures. I felt that the message was well executed and brutally portrayed. While the story does take on a mythical quality, it has no shortage of brutality and gore, both towards humans and animals. There are violent deaths and they are described with unflinching cruelty.
There were moments in the story where I felt so shocked or emotional that I had to put the book down to gather myself, which is not something that happens often. This book was beautiful, heartbreaking, and unapologetic all at once. It will will haunt me for a long time. I don't want to share more because I don't want to ruin the mythos of Blacktail's adventure.
In the end, what if we had never forgotten the language of the hunt? More importantly, what happens now that we already have?
July 21, 2026
makes me want to reread warrior cats
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
July 10, 2026
thank you to the publisher and net galley for the digital arc!
so I think I discovered a genre that I don’t like: personified animals. the only other book i’ve read that’s similar would be silverwing, which I enjoyed but it was juvenile and felt fitting. I haven’t read the staples like watership down, redwall or animal farm so maybe i’m missing something but the adult themes and human patriarchal matters felt off putting in a way, which was maybe the point but it just didn’t work for me. that being said; the writing is fantastic, the characters did feel fully fleshed out, and I for sure want to check out the authors debut after reading this. I think this will be a treat for some, and for others, will leave a bitter taste in their mouth.
so I think I discovered a genre that I don’t like: personified animals. the only other book i’ve read that’s similar would be silverwing, which I enjoyed but it was juvenile and felt fitting. I haven’t read the staples like watership down, redwall or animal farm so maybe i’m missing something but the adult themes and human patriarchal matters felt off putting in a way, which was maybe the point but it just didn’t work for me. that being said; the writing is fantastic, the characters did feel fully fleshed out, and I for sure want to check out the authors debut after reading this. I think this will be a treat for some, and for others, will leave a bitter taste in their mouth.
June 14, 2026
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”
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”
May 27, 2026
🌟🌟🌟🌟
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.
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.
Read
July 7, 2026Dark fairytale from animals’ POV, not concerned with comfortable human morality, feels a bit like an answer to Watership Down and Plague Dogs with a real seething undercurrent of rage. Maybe connected to Library at Mount Char if you squint at the end.
Want to Read
May 22, 2026Oh I've been waiting for this!
Want to Read
July 8, 2026it's been over a decade and scott hawkins is finally releasing another book AND i just got preapproved for an arc 😎
July 17, 2026
Video review to come soon!
Want to Read
April 14, 2026Y'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 😭😭)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
A gruesome, haunting, and incredibly clever tale, and one of my favorite reads of the year.
I could probably count on one hand the number of books I’ve read that are told through the eyes of animals, and this one completely surpassed my expectations.
This is a truly dark novel, filled with unexpected humor while also being deeply profound.
The first thing that struck me was the language. Even the use of capitalization carried more weight than the words. Words like Car, House, and Gunshot. They were perceived as god like or all powerful.
It’s difficult to put my finger on exactly why the dialogue worked so well, but it was my favorite aspect of the novel. The conversations between the animals felt dynamic, hilarious, and unlike any dialogue I’ve read before. Watching them search for a unified language, describing human body parts in relation to their own anatomy and inventing words to make sense of the human world, was entertaining. That creativity extended to their names as well. Some were literal and others were completely ridiculous, which admittedly made me reflect on my own cat’s name being Tater Tot. Between the Old Kitty Mother, the cats’ affinity with magic and psychic abilities (they really do stare into your soul), and squirrel cults, this was unlike anything I’ve ever read.
The descriptions transformed scenes that could have simply been gruesome into something genuinely disturbing. This was especially true with Hider. His chapters were easily the most chilling part of the book. The horror came less from explicit detail and more from the fragmented, almost incomplete way things were described. The broken sentences made the impact that I believe was intended. It’s kind of the feeling of, I don’t “know know” exactly what he’s saying but at the same time I do and that’s the worst part.
I found the most broken characters to be the most thought provoking. Which they most often are. We can see ourselves in them even though in this case they are animals. Hider’s chapters lingered with me long after I finished them. The glimpses into his mindset and his life made me reflect on the darkness people can carry. That’s certainly not to excuse his actions, but it made him one of the most compelling characters in the novel.
It’s also worth mentioning Renren, one of Blacktail’s primary catalysts. As a mother myself, those moments broke my heart. Much of this story serves as a reflection of how humans treat animals, and seeing the world from this perspective made many scenes absolutely devastating. This applies to the lab scene towards the end. The visuals are so clear in this novel it’s intense.
This is a messed up and thought provoking tale that certainly won’t be for everyone, but I love a morally black protagonist, and this applies to almost every character we encounter. As I reached the ending, I wondered how everything could possibly be resolved. The conclusion was satisfying. We received call backs and questions answered, not fully because that seems to be the theme, but enough where I was content.
This is easily one of the most unique books I’ve read this year. It’s rare a book feels completely original but this hit it right on the nose. It will be one that sticks with me for a long time. And that’s one of the best gifts an author can give.
A gruesome, haunting, and incredibly clever tale, and one of my favorite reads of the year.
I could probably count on one hand the number of books I’ve read that are told through the eyes of animals, and this one completely surpassed my expectations.
This is a truly dark novel, filled with unexpected humor while also being deeply profound.
The first thing that struck me was the language. Even the use of capitalization carried more weight than the words. Words like Car, House, and Gunshot. They were perceived as god like or all powerful.
It’s difficult to put my finger on exactly why the dialogue worked so well, but it was my favorite aspect of the novel. The conversations between the animals felt dynamic, hilarious, and unlike any dialogue I’ve read before. Watching them search for a unified language, describing human body parts in relation to their own anatomy and inventing words to make sense of the human world, was entertaining. That creativity extended to their names as well. Some were literal and others were completely ridiculous, which admittedly made me reflect on my own cat’s name being Tater Tot. Between the Old Kitty Mother, the cats’ affinity with magic and psychic abilities (they really do stare into your soul), and squirrel cults, this was unlike anything I’ve ever read.
The descriptions transformed scenes that could have simply been gruesome into something genuinely disturbing. This was especially true with Hider. His chapters were easily the most chilling part of the book. The horror came less from explicit detail and more from the fragmented, almost incomplete way things were described. The broken sentences made the impact that I believe was intended. It’s kind of the feeling of, I don’t “know know” exactly what he’s saying but at the same time I do and that’s the worst part.
I found the most broken characters to be the most thought provoking. Which they most often are. We can see ourselves in them even though in this case they are animals. Hider’s chapters lingered with me long after I finished them. The glimpses into his mindset and his life made me reflect on the darkness people can carry. That’s certainly not to excuse his actions, but it made him one of the most compelling characters in the novel.
It’s also worth mentioning Renren, one of Blacktail’s primary catalysts. As a mother myself, those moments broke my heart. Much of this story serves as a reflection of how humans treat animals, and seeing the world from this perspective made many scenes absolutely devastating. This applies to the lab scene towards the end. The visuals are so clear in this novel it’s intense.
This is a messed up and thought provoking tale that certainly won’t be for everyone, but I love a morally black protagonist, and this applies to almost every character we encounter. As I reached the ending, I wondered how everything could possibly be resolved. The conclusion was satisfying. We received call backs and questions answered, not fully because that seems to be the theme, but enough where I was content.
This is easily one of the most unique books I’ve read this year. It’s rare a book feels completely original but this hit it right on the nose. It will be one that sticks with me for a long time. And that’s one of the best gifts an author can give.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Intent on avenging his mate, a lone wolf strikes out as a messiah to end the reign of humans forever. Bloody and chilling, Hawkins grabs you by the spine and doesn’t let go. Deeply discomforting, Blacktail is folklore weaved from the bones of the Brothers Grimm and connected by the sinew and muscle of mysticism and environmentalism.
Channeling the likes of Tolkein, Richard Adams (there are even direct references to Watership Down!), and Cameron Sullivan's recent, The Red Winter, Hawkins writes a chillingly prescient critique of humanity's encroachment on nature. This is like the (very) adult version of the Seekers series by Erin Hunter (et al.). Here, Firebeasts are replaced with Car which behaves in ways inexplicable to the animal POVs. Squirrels sacrifice themselves to the cult of Car. Blacktail views them first as a herd of animals, presupposing an end somewhere only to realize they are like a river, ceaseless and unending. And there is death, careless and unheeded, a spark to light the seething fire of anger and hate in the animals. The commitment to the animal POV is remarkable and throughout made me wonder how much research, soul searching, and attention Hawkins undertook to portray the inner world of predator and prey alike.
There are literary allusions throughout, many I am sure I missed. This is a high fantasy, literary accomplishment that hinges on Christian and Jewish mysticism and theology. Much of this went probably went over my head due to my (lack of) background in religious studies, but it is undeniably present from the voyage through the desert to names of characters to the birth of a new, saved world.
Critiques and debate over ideas are story beats, vignettes that drive the story forward and crystallize Blacktail's character and purpose. Religious fervor is uncompromising, hypocrisy worms itself like rot into hearts and minds.Despite the stomach-churning violence so vividly rendered, this is a book ripe for rereading and in-depth analysis.
About a third in, when Blacktail begins his quest and the story takes an unexpected, but what I assume to be similar to that of The Library at Mount Char, turn towards gods and magic, I considered DNFing. I am glad I did not. The first third is different, more focused on the grounded reality of a lone wolf living on the edge of human society, than the latter two-thirds. I needed time to adjust my expectations and allow an even further suspension of disbelief. I wanted literary fiction from an animal POV and ended up with a high fantasy, epic quest. I appreciate it for what it is, fantasy just tends not to be a genre I find I am able to rank highly, despite the quality and thoughtfulness in of the work in question. 3.5/5
Channeling the likes of Tolkein, Richard Adams (there are even direct references to Watership Down!), and Cameron Sullivan's recent, The Red Winter, Hawkins writes a chillingly prescient critique of humanity's encroachment on nature. This is like the (very) adult version of the Seekers series by Erin Hunter (et al.). Here, Firebeasts are replaced with Car which behaves in ways inexplicable to the animal POVs. Squirrels sacrifice themselves to the cult of Car. Blacktail views them first as a herd of animals, presupposing an end somewhere only to realize they are like a river, ceaseless and unending. And there is death, careless and unheeded, a spark to light the seething fire of anger and hate in the animals. The commitment to the animal POV is remarkable and throughout made me wonder how much research, soul searching, and attention Hawkins undertook to portray the inner world of predator and prey alike.
There are literary allusions throughout, many I am sure I missed. This is a high fantasy, literary accomplishment that hinges on Christian and Jewish mysticism and theology. Much of this went probably went over my head due to my (lack of) background in religious studies, but it is undeniably present from the voyage through the desert to names of characters to the birth of a new, saved world.
Critiques and debate over ideas are story beats, vignettes that drive the story forward and crystallize Blacktail's character and purpose. Religious fervor is uncompromising, hypocrisy worms itself like rot into hearts and minds.Despite the stomach-churning violence so vividly rendered, this is a book ripe for rereading and in-depth analysis.
About a third in, when Blacktail begins his quest and the story takes an unexpected, but what I assume to be similar to that of The Library at Mount Char, turn towards gods and magic, I considered DNFing. I am glad I did not. The first third is different, more focused on the grounded reality of a lone wolf living on the edge of human society, than the latter two-thirds. I needed time to adjust my expectations and allow an even further suspension of disbelief. I wanted literary fiction from an animal POV and ended up with a high fantasy, epic quest. I appreciate it for what it is, fantasy just tends not to be a genre I find I am able to rank highly, despite the quality and thoughtfulness in of the work in question. 3.5/5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Book Review: Blacktail by Scott Hawkins
I went into Blacktail expecting dark fantasy, but Scott Hawkins makes it clear within the first few pages that this is something much harsher. The opening interrogation and torture of a rabbit is among the most graphic scenes I’ve ever read, immediately establishing the novel’s central concerns: survival, grief, revenge, and what happens when loss consumes you. I won’t lie, I almost questioned whether I wanted to keep reading. But I’m glad I did. For all its brutality, this book also has an incredibly sharp sense of humor. It made me laugh out loud, only to completely shatter my heart a few chapters later.
The story follows Blacktail, a half-wolf whose mate and unborn pups are killed by humans, sending him on a relentless quest for revenge. As his journey grows, he encounters an ancient feline witch who convinces him that humanity has broken the natural order beyond repair. What begins as one animal’s grief slowly transforms into a mythic struggle to awaken the Forest God. Your heart is shattered every few moments, but Hawkins always leaves just enough hope to keep you believing things might somehow turn out okay. That emotional push and pull kept me completely invested.
One of my favorite parts of this book is how completely it pulled me into the animals’ perspective. Before long, I found myself hating every human who appeared because they almost always brought pain, destruction, or death. The novel never pretends nature is kind. Predators kill because they must, but humans are portrayed as uniquely capable of needless devastation. It’s also a thoughtful exploration of grief, revenge, power, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Even when I didn’t agree with Blacktail’s choices, I understood how he got there.
Blacktail is one of the most emotionally exhausting books I’ve read in a long time, but also one of the most memorable. It’s dark, funny, heartbreaking, horrifying, and unexpectedly hopeful. The graphic animal violence means it absolutely won’t be for everyone, but if you can stomach it, you’ll find an ambitious fantasy that has a lot to say about loss, vengeance, and the cost of both. This book is going to stick with me for a long time, and it’s an easy 4.5 stars from me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I went into Blacktail expecting dark fantasy, but Scott Hawkins makes it clear within the first few pages that this is something much harsher. The opening interrogation and torture of a rabbit is among the most graphic scenes I’ve ever read, immediately establishing the novel’s central concerns: survival, grief, revenge, and what happens when loss consumes you. I won’t lie, I almost questioned whether I wanted to keep reading. But I’m glad I did. For all its brutality, this book also has an incredibly sharp sense of humor. It made me laugh out loud, only to completely shatter my heart a few chapters later.
The story follows Blacktail, a half-wolf whose mate and unborn pups are killed by humans, sending him on a relentless quest for revenge. As his journey grows, he encounters an ancient feline witch who convinces him that humanity has broken the natural order beyond repair. What begins as one animal’s grief slowly transforms into a mythic struggle to awaken the Forest God. Your heart is shattered every few moments, but Hawkins always leaves just enough hope to keep you believing things might somehow turn out okay. That emotional push and pull kept me completely invested.
One of my favorite parts of this book is how completely it pulled me into the animals’ perspective. Before long, I found myself hating every human who appeared because they almost always brought pain, destruction, or death. The novel never pretends nature is kind. Predators kill because they must, but humans are portrayed as uniquely capable of needless devastation. It’s also a thoughtful exploration of grief, revenge, power, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Even when I didn’t agree with Blacktail’s choices, I understood how he got there.
Blacktail is one of the most emotionally exhausting books I’ve read in a long time, but also one of the most memorable. It’s dark, funny, heartbreaking, horrifying, and unexpectedly hopeful. The graphic animal violence means it absolutely won’t be for everyone, but if you can stomach it, you’ll find an ambitious fantasy that has a lot to say about loss, vengeance, and the cost of both. This book is going to stick with me for a long time, and it’s an easy 4.5 stars from me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
July 25, 2026
Major spoilers ahead.
While I appreciated the unique way this book explored the destructive impact humans have had on the planet and rampant animal cruelty we passively engage in (and many actively engage in), I found so much about this book to be pretty half-baked and disappointing, and by the end it ultimately says nothing since the issues that arise after humans are wiped out are glossed over quickly and never put in conversation with the destructive nature of humans.
We are also shown Blacktail's conception through another character's dream, casting doubt onto this idea we've had that his father was just some dog he'd never known and strengthening some very clear parallels with Jesus (a form of immaculate conception, healing the injured and sick, attracting disciples) but then that's just thrown away. Everything regarding religion is confused and slapdash.
If the book had leaned more into the fantastic, if it hadn't realized the Abrahamic God while implying that the Forest God is ~just the power within us all~ as if Blacktail doesn't have actual powers and there aren't actual gods or demons or something who can transform humans into animals, then it would have been much more satisfying. I just didn't feel like all the ideas made sense within the world the story was set in.
That said, I have never read anything quite like this and I really liked the attempt at immersing the reader in the perspective of a wolf hell-bent on vengeance. This was dark and brutal and violent and it did more to make me think about our relationship with animals and the natural world than I have since reading Eating Animals about fifteen years ago. This book didn't work for me, but I know so many readers will love this, and I'm still just as eager to read The Library at Mount Char as I was before I read this.
While I appreciated the unique way this book explored the destructive impact humans have had on the planet and rampant animal cruelty we passively engage in (and many actively engage in), I found so much about this book to be pretty half-baked and disappointing, and by the end it ultimately says nothing since the issues that arise after humans are wiped out are glossed over quickly and never put in conversation with the destructive nature of humans.
We are also shown Blacktail's conception through another character's dream, casting doubt onto this idea we've had that his father was just some dog he'd never known and strengthening some very clear parallels with Jesus (a form of immaculate conception, healing the injured and sick, attracting disciples) but then that's just thrown away. Everything regarding religion is confused and slapdash.
If the book had leaned more into the fantastic, if it hadn't realized the Abrahamic God while implying that the Forest God is ~just the power within us all~ as if Blacktail doesn't have actual powers and there aren't actual gods or demons or something who can transform humans into animals, then it would have been much more satisfying. I just didn't feel like all the ideas made sense within the world the story was set in.
That said, I have never read anything quite like this and I really liked the attempt at immersing the reader in the perspective of a wolf hell-bent on vengeance. This was dark and brutal and violent and it did more to make me think about our relationship with animals and the natural world than I have since reading Eating Animals about fifteen years ago. This book didn't work for me, but I know so many readers will love this, and I'm still just as eager to read The Library at Mount Char as I was before I read this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
*ARC review*
The few things I like are so drastically outweighed by my dislikes that I forgot pretty much all of them. The only thing I remember liking is the overall writing style: very lyrical, dark, lots of heavy mic-drops. That plus this being an ARC are why the star rating is even this high. But otherwise…
-For the first 20ish% of the book, the animal characters are not written animal enough to make us care about them like animals. But they’re not written human enough for us to relate to them either. They just sit in this alien middle ground that makes us not give a fuck. Thankfully, this completely changes after a pivotal character death. Glad he fixed it, but I think it should’ve been like that from the start.
-Provocative for provocative’s sake. A Saw movie targeting animal lovers. Sometimes a story needs an animal death to progress, I get that. But sometimes, less is more. Unnecessary twisting of the knife that doesn’t contribute to the story in the slightest. I’ll spare you the details. Heavy on the triggers.
-Nasty detailed descriptions of animal arousal and intercourse.
-Blacktail goes from not giving a fuck about faith to suddenly being 110% pious at maybe the 2/3 point, with no possible explanation until damn near the end, and I’m still not even convinced that’s the actual reason (or that there is one at all).
-A handful of lines that could be interpreted as anti-abortion arguments. Maybe it’s just part of the story, but given how batshit everything else is, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s intentional. He has every right to write that, and I’m exercising my right to not enjoy it.
The few things I like are so drastically outweighed by my dislikes that I forgot pretty much all of them. The only thing I remember liking is the overall writing style: very lyrical, dark, lots of heavy mic-drops. That plus this being an ARC are why the star rating is even this high. But otherwise…
-For the first 20ish% of the book, the animal characters are not written animal enough to make us care about them like animals. But they’re not written human enough for us to relate to them either. They just sit in this alien middle ground that makes us not give a fuck. Thankfully, this completely changes after a pivotal character death. Glad he fixed it, but I think it should’ve been like that from the start.
-Provocative for provocative’s sake. A Saw movie targeting animal lovers. Sometimes a story needs an animal death to progress, I get that. But sometimes, less is more. Unnecessary twisting of the knife that doesn’t contribute to the story in the slightest. I’ll spare you the details. Heavy on the triggers.
-Nasty detailed descriptions of animal arousal and intercourse.
-Blacktail goes from not giving a fuck about faith to suddenly being 110% pious at maybe the 2/3 point, with no possible explanation until damn near the end, and I’m still not even convinced that’s the actual reason (or that there is one at all).
-A handful of lines that could be interpreted as anti-abortion arguments. Maybe it’s just part of the story, but given how batshit everything else is, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s intentional. He has every right to write that, and I’m exercising my right to not enjoy it.
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