Grind Your Bones to Dust

by Nicholas Day

In his first novel, This Is Horror and Wonderland Award-nominated author Nicholas Day invites you to take a journey into a Hell that is at once uncomfortably familiar, yet unlike anything you've ever encountered before: a surveyor finds himself pursued by flesh-eating donkeys in the furthest reaches of Oregon's desert; a mass-murderer leaves the sanctity of his mountain home to pursue a long-lost love, his guide an otherworldly raven possessed by a 19th century American humorist; in nearby Klamath Falls, two estranged childhood friends set off to find a missing father with the help of two aging cowboys; and, a prisoner in her own home sees a vision of death and knows there is no escape.

Pain is proselytizing.

Death is the one, true faith.

And everyone worships in their due time.

The Gates of Nihil are wide open and waiting to... Grind Your Bones to Dust.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Adult, Westerns, Supernatural, Dark

212 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 9, 2019

About the author

Nicholas Day is an award-nominated author who writes predominantly within the horror, science fiction, and crime genres.

Currently, he co-owns Rooster Republic Press and Strangehouse Books with fellow writer Don Noble. In addition to this, the duo handle acquisitions and oversee production for Bizarro Pulp Press, an imprint of JournalStone.

Reviews

[Char · Rating 5 out of 5]

GRIND YOUR BONES TO DUST is a beautifully written, brutal horror novel, but it's also much more.

Separated into 4 sections, this book delves into creature feature territory, as well as philosophy, (does God exist? Is God insane? Maybe both, maybe neither?), religion, grief, loss, rape, sodomy, guilt and love. I wouldn't have thought that such a short book could cover so many subjects, but this one was full of surprises. Vicious and extreme horror really aren't my thing anymore, but this story was different. I think the beauty of the language used tempered the more brutal aspects of the scenes within, if that makes any sense.

Just when I thought I had mapped out the direction in which the story would go, it turned on me. I find that to be an excellent way of keeping the reader turning the pages. It certainly worked on me.

I'm finding it difficult to talk more about this story without spoilers. A few of these characters will remain in my mind for quite some time. One of them might haunt me forever, just because of how cold he was. Cold to every living thing, except for a talking raven that he befriended on his journey. He was so cold I'm surprised my fingers didn't get frostbite.

I consider myself to be a seasoned horror fan. For that reason, it's hard to discover plots I haven't come across before. It's hard to escape the same old tropes, final girls, haunted houses, unreliable narrators blah blah blah. This book DID escape them, and it escaped by using original ideas, beautiful prose, and by intertwining the normal with the most abnormal of situations I've ever come across. For this reason, GRIND YOUR BONES TO DUST gets ALL THE DAMN STARS.

My highest recommendation!

Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2Vy9t3R

*I was provided a full paper manuscript with illustrations by the author, in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally published for Cemetery Dance October 7th, 2019
https://www.cemeterydance.com/extras/...

“Somewhere out there is a true and living prophet of destruction and I dont want to confront him. I know he’s real. I have seen his work.” No Country for Old Men, Cormac McCarthy
Sometimes the right story, told by the right author, finds itself in your hands at just the right time. I received Grind Your Bones to Dust by Nicholas Day as a printed manuscript, three-hole-punched, brad at the top and the bottom holding the many pages together. It felt special when I held it.

Flipping through, I saw illustrations; striking, intentionally scribbly illustrations of man and beast.

I already knew from reading Nick’s short story collection, Nobody Gets Hurt and Other Lies, what I should expect from his first novel:

The unexpected.

As I devoured this book, I had the distinct feeling that every single word was chosen with meticulous care and concern; no words were added flippantly, wastefully or without great intention. This kind of mindfulness from the author has a mesmerizing effect on me as a reader. This book is so compelling and gripping, my very life was suspended and held in tension until I finished.

Told in four parts, the first three parts are told almost as isolated events. There are small connective threads of familiarity, either with characters or the storyline, woven through so that you know that at some point everything is going to come together and it will be epic. That apex moment of all the points of light intersecting is in part four. The brilliance of it all is breathtaking; literally, the most masterful climax and conclusion. I have never read its equal.

It would be utter ruin if I were to overshare any of this book’s unique storyline. Part One starts right off with the protagonist, Louis Loving, fleeing a strange horror in the middle of the night. You have never encountered predators such as these in all your horror journeys.

Part Two features a villain so unfathomably evil…I could say with confidence that James Hayte is the single most wicked character to ever terrify me in literature. Second, only to Cormac McCarty’s the Judge in Blood Meridian. There are murderous deeds committed you will never want to read again, and Nicholas Day writes them in such a way that you are unlikely to ever forget a single one. Part of me wishes I could scrub them from my mind and part of me wants to applaud Day for being the kind of author who absolutely knows how to write exceptionally memorable acts of violence. He understands that sometimes full detail is not required to project a horrifying act into a reader’s mind. Things can be suggested with just the right words, and it’s more unsettling than full disclosure could ever be.

One of my favorite characters is Billings, a supernatural raven who speaks in these prophetic parables and mysteries. Billings and James somehow find each other and the two of them together are some of my favorite storytelling moments.

Part Three is the introduction of some important characters who are going to lead us back to Part One. This portion of the story provides the reader with some of the best dialog I’ve ever read. Truly some profound words are exchanged and I found myself wanting to either commit everything to memory or furiously scribble down notes, so I did both. It’s in Part Three that I read one of the scariest horror fiction moments I’ve read to this day. It reads like an intense scene in some indie horror movie that is talked about for generations. Once you read it, you’ll know—that’s the scene Sadie was talking about. Like already said, Part Four is Nicholas Day showing us what he’s made of.

He writes like a man possessed as if the very story you’re reading has somehow taken over Day’s being and poured itself out onto the page. I don’t know if Nicholas Day sold his soul at a crossroads to bring us Grind Your Bones to Dust, but this book feels like the result of a pact made with the Devil to bring us the finest horror has to offer. I’m thankful this is his first novel because it is this reader’s opinion it will propel him farther out into the industry and we can plan to enjoy many more novels from him. I’ll be standing in line.

[Aiden Merchant · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 - The new Nicholas Day novel is a difficult piece for me to dissect. In its first half, I found it increasingly difficult to push on due to its violence. I don’t have many triggers, but the death of children is one that makes me boil from the inside, especially if they are graphic. Grind Your Bones to Dust doesn’t shy away from violence whatsoever; in fact, it seems to embrace it at times for the sake of shock value (something I also shy away from, generally). When a bad man continues to kill the people that happen upon his path, it’s not unexpected. However, when he seeks to force sodomy upon them or cut out the hearts of their children, a line is being crossed in my mind. The scene in which he tortures a mother and her little girl actually angered me so much that I nearly deleted the book file, not wanting any more to do with it. However, after talking with a fellow reviewer in our KR group chat, I decided I would do my best to complete the book. Luckily, my trigger wasn’t pulled but once after that (and it was more of a squeeze than a full-on pull).

You may ask why I would push myself to finish a book that upset me so in its early pages. The thing I learned about Nicholas Day with Grind Your Bones to Dust is this: he is one hell of a writer. Darkly lyrical and achingly classic in its delivery, his writing crosses the likeness of Shakespeare with Poe. The visuals this man creates are undeniable. The scares he delivers are truly unnerving. The villain of this story is a disgusting one, a man so sick in the head that he can’t help but feel a compulsion to mutilate and murder anyone he finds. And the flesh-eating donkeys, well…they’re a new kind of nightmare.

Despite its flaws and overly bleak, dreadful nature, I couldn’t help but look back at this novel as a journey well spent. It fucked with me more than once, but Day’s words lured me back every time. Would I read it again? With the exception of a couple specific pages, I think I would. His explicit and poetic prose deliver room for exploration, so return visits are certainly warranted. Grind Your Bones to Dust may be a difficult read at times, but it’s a force to be reckoned.

And, yes, I do intend on following Day’s work from this point forward. I’ve just purchased Now That We’re Alone.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The desert remained a cold and scheming stillness, despite his rapid heartbeat and sharp breaths. Silence stalked the mind as surely as any nocturnal creature in this vast nothing.” - Nicholas Day, Grind Your Bones to Dust


“I will grind your bones to dust

And with your blood and it I'll make a paste,

And of the paste a coffin I will rear

And make two pasties of your shameful heads…” - William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus Act V, Scene ii


Very early this year, I read Day’s novella At The End of the Day I Burst Into Flames, so I had some idea of the skill to expect as well as his ability to snare my emotions quickly and deeply. In this debut novel, Day proves that while he excels in the short form, longer fiction is well within his skill set. Segmented into four related yet different parts, readers should expect non-linear storytelling I can only liken to Vonnegut and others. It takes chops to make storytelling like this work and I sit in awe when it is done well. This is definitely the case here.

Grind Your Bones to Dust is a masterclass in deeply unsettling horror. Shifting, sometimes unreliable, protagonists (there are different focal points within each section) and a plot that drags the reader into depths unknown transform this novel into a violent, gorgeous experience. Unique villains such as carnivorous, evil donkeys, a raven with an agenda, and a murderous, proselytizing dark preacher, round out a cast of characters this reader isn’t likely to forget.

I need to re-read this book upon publication. What’s amusing to me is that in my “day job” I teach students to look for connections, allusions, deeper meanings, and anything they can use to peel back the layers of story they encounter. I, myself, have been tasked to do this throughout undergrad and two different graduate programs. Yet I feel like I missed so much. Shortly after Part 1, I finally started picking up on little things. Biblical names of characters. Actions of these aptly named characters that show that Day has something to say about religion, loss, and normative expectations. There is more here than murderous donkeys. There is more here than an unusual form of plot. It is this richness that I only got a glimpse of and that I need to glean more from. This is no fault of the author, it is mine and I kind of like that I have reason to join this world again. Even at the end, when I discovered, in shock, why the title sounded so familiar (see the Shakespeare quote above), I marvelled at how these allusions were hidden and yet accessible. I only needed to open my mind a bit more. (Side note: Titus Andronicus is a play I have studied and even taught. This scene is PERFECT for the title of this book.)

I took my time with this novel, savoring the pieces and, at times, looking up in revulsion. This story is heavy and entertaining; moreover, it’s one I am unlikely to ever forget. Grind Your Bones to Dust has earned a place in my top 10 reads of 2019; don’t miss this one.

[Sjgomzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally getting around to this book after six years of it sitting on my shelf, and this ultra-violent beautifully written masterpiece is one of the best books I’ve read this year. Brutal, upsetting and surprising. This should be on every horror fans shelf, but sadly, I think it’s out of print. 😕

[Steve Stred · Rating 3 out of 5]

** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **

After devouring (and loving) Day’s ‘At the End of the Day I Burst Into Flames’ I was keen to check out ‘Grind…’ but like everyone, my TBR is insane and it took me some time to finally get around to it.

Oddly, I’ve only had a few books over the last few years that hit me like this one did, the last being Craig DiLouie’s ‘Children of Red Peak.’ That is, books I absolutely loved but also absolutely infuriated me.

I think with ‘Grind…’s case, this was due to the borderline Bizarro leanings that I found reading this.

What I liked: A gruesome novel, told through interconnected novellas, ‘Grind Your Bones to Dust’ is a very dark read that focuses on bleakness and pain. The beginning opens in the Oregan wilds, a group of Hell Donkeys wreaking havoc on a farm and from there Day doesn’t relent.

I struggle to define stories, but this one had a speculative Bizarro feel to it that worked to allow anything to happen and the characters Day crafted were left to take the brunt of his imagination.

Each story/section worked well to pull the readers along and keep us feeling dirty and on the cusp of collapse, but for me the highlight was just how brutal things were, even when we’d already been subjected to horrific events.

What I didn’t like: As I mentioned, at times this goes bonkers and entered (at least to this reader) Bizarro areas of plot progression. It works to move things along but also threw me for a loop.

Why you should buy this: Day’s a fantastic writer and if the opening of this book doesn’t hook you, the brutality that comes after certainly will. This is one that will either tick all your boxes or make you feel completely repulsed.

Either way, this is one you should definitely check out.

[Aaron Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest pieces of fiction I've ever read. Not a single word is wasted. The prose is superb. The dialogue exceptional. Grind your bones to dust is a gorgeous nightmare.

Split across four parts we follow a man taking shelter in a farm after escaping an attack from an unknown beast that left his friend dead in the night. What this beast is is shocking in itself, and Day makes something that we all know and love terrifying. The last act of the first part and the final reveal is horrific, and sets the tone for things to come.

The second part follows a terrifying one man crusade as an evil presence makes his way towards a lost love, dispatching anyone that gets in his way. A truly memorable villain who deserves his place with the greats.

The third part follows a group of men tracking someone lost in the desert. The bulk of this part is the four men sat around a campfire telling tales, but it's no less thrilling because of this lack of action, and it more than makes up for it in its fever dream of a finale.

The final part brings everything full circle in its tense final stand.

This gets my highest possible recommendation. The fact that this is a debut novel is astounding.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book filled with existential angst. Each character is very human, flawed, and in the case of James, downright evil. It is beautifully written. It tore my insides out and made a pretty bow out of them by expressing such bleak and loneliness-inducing ideas in such an excruciatingly elegant way.

I read it as a trek through some netherworld or parallel universe where carnivorous donkeys abound and you can't find the stars in the sky. Everyone's story is pain. It's like Nicholas Day filtered out all the good things in life and deliberately put the bad side of it all into a book, while only *mentioning* the good things to show the contrast. You certainly don't get to live the good things through any of the characters or backdrops in this story.

I was particularly interested in the freaky raven, Josh Billings. I looked this fella up after reading and discovered he was a real humourist from the 1800s who wrote in the same manner that Day voiced through this character. It made me wonder what bad things I should further discover about the real Billings to learn why the author decided his afterlife might be so dark, desolate, and deserving of becoming a servant of evil.

There are a few quotes I wanted to mention here that moved me the most, that I savoured like some horrific mental caviar:

"A star dies and seraph, like flies, set upon it and the corpse bloats, expands until electric maggots burst forth, then the bloat collapses, star-flesh spent and returned to the fertile void, the celestial rot. The other stars look on in wonder asking, why does God let bad things happen to good stars? The other celestial beings whisper and their concerns are carried on waves of radiation. They ask the same thing you do. Why?" -Wow, this comparison of humans and stars is deep. It is almost humorous while also hitting the nail on the head and putting the pain of us humans (ants?) into perspective.

"The jungle gyms and swing sets appeared like bone sculptures in the nocturnal incandescence. An empty playground, its attractions and distractions unmolested by children, seemed a kind of tragedy, as if these playthings were monuments to innocence lost, or, a shrine that invited revelry as tithe to mortality." -Here I imagined Nicholas Day laughing darkly at his own concept that children 'molest' playgrounds, considering that the things James does in this book are far less innocent than children playing on a playground.

"Maybe your prayer is what let the old man finally do himself in, like God had no reason to take him until someone else wanted him gone ... Maybe you killed him, Ed. You and God, together. People are always killing in the name of God. Maybe God killed my pa in the name of Ed?" -I've often pondered a similar idea in my own mind when trying to understand theology. It was cool seeing it placed before me so eloquently, reminding me that we all have the same doubts and questions.

"In the absence of sound, man will hear what he wants, however mad the tenor may be. He becomes the song he hears in his mind. I wondered what kind of silence must have sung us into creation." -So powerful.

"...like he and I both needed punishing and we were sent to one another to deliver." -Another concept I've mulled over regularly when wondering why bad things happen to good people, why someone's life might be cut short due to illness or an accident. Why I might not be understanding the 'justice' that appears before me.

Ultimately, I really liked this book. It was graphic and dreamy. I truly ached after finishing it and am unsure of if I could read this again. It feels a bit like a nightmare that left me hollow inside. I am inclined to agree with other reviewers in that I've not read anything like this before. Before reading this, fortify your heart and mind, or don't, and Nicholas Day will happily grind the bones of your heart and soul to dust.

[Matt (TeamRedmon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this with the highest expectations and somehow, I was not disappointed. Full review to come.

[Sara Tantlinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A visceral, unapologetic, and unforgettable beast of a book. Nicholas Day utilizes haunting, poetic prose between each vicious scene with impressive skill. The cast of characters are strange, wild, and emote a realm of pain that hooks you into their lives and refuses to let you go. Day spins us a world where the monstrous donkeys eat flesh and the characters embark on Godless quests, but the horrific sermon of human brutality is what will stay with you long after the book is closed. Say a prayer if you like, but no salvation or redemption will bother to save you from what Day has in store...

[David Voyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grind Your Bones to Dust is horror at it's finest. Nicholas Day is a superb writer who blends poetic description, metaphysical musings, and dark violence into fiction that goes well beyond mere storytelling. One should be forewarned that this novel is not for the squeamish. Day pulls no punches in his depiction of a stark world that one might best hope is godless, for the picture he paints is one of utter despair and gloom. For all you Stephen King fans, if you thought Randall Flagg was dark, you haven't met James Hayte. This is a novel you will never forget.

[Josh reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever had one of those books that just sneaks up on you and surprises you with how incredible it is! That is Grind your Bones to Dust by Nicholas Day. This is the first full length novel by the author and he does not disappoint. How can an author wrote about such brutality and in the next phrase, pull at one’s heart strings with such stark beauty. There are characters here that are incredibly compelling even though their actions are reprehensible. The book is split into four sections, each from a different POV but ultimately connecting by the end. As I read the book I was surprised how well Day defies genre, this book is so many things all at once, I’m not even quite sure what categories to even compare it to. Just know that there is crow that flutters throughout part of the tale and he just spouts some witty little dialogue. I highly recommend this book, one of my favorite of 2019, read and enjoy, but please watch out for the feral donkeys, they have a hell of a bite!

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to lead with, this book is absolutely beautifully written. It's scary as hell - if you look at donkeys and think, aww, cute widdle beasts of burden, how scary can they be? You will be corrected in a page or two.

Second, this is also an incredibly brutal book. There's a lot of content that made me have to take a breath and put it down. There are definitely some triggers here: child murder, rape It's rough going, but in my opinion, it's not gratuitous. You feel the tension build, knowing exactly what's at stake in each encounter. Day crafts the atmosphere and pacing perfectly.

It's also inventive - if you feel like everything has already been written about, I give you Exhibit A in rebuttal. The dialogue, the supernatural elements, the entire four parts...it's a masterpiece.

And some of the narrative...Louis's reaction to the family man farmer was just so real. Day leaves perfect brushstrokes of truth and humanity and observation in every section, which is what made me know I would always pick it back up. It's the kind of book that makes you sigh a little, knowing it's way beyond your capabilities, but smile too, because it wasn't beyond Nick Day's, and he let you in.

[Alexander Pyles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Day does it again. He brings together a literary sensibility to the weird, bizarre, and horrific setting that is western Oregon.

There are some large content warnings, such as extreme violence, rape, and suicide, but it is done with as much finesse as Day seems to allow.

It feels like a blend of McCarthy, True Detective, and O'Connor rolled into one. This may be Day's debut novel, but he has been around for a bit and he continues to be one to watch.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grind Your Bones to Dust gave me a book hangover of the best kind. You know what I’m talking about, right? It’s the kind of story that leaves you breathless and dazed at the end, unsure of what to read next. I wanted to simultaneously hug and set this novel aside, and I mean that in the best way possible. I’m not sure I can articulate all of my thoughts on this book outside of a full-on conversation, but I will try my best.

The language in this book is out of this world. Day’s prose has a poetic quality, and there were lines so well-written that I had to read the words several times over before I could move on. You’ve all heard me gush about John Boden’s writing style, and the writing in this novel reminded me of his work at times. There are lines here that need to be savored and read at a slow pace. With regards to the characters, I haven’t encountered a villain as intense as James since I met “The Judge” in McCarthy’s Blood Meridian. The supporting characters here are relatable and memorable, and they all come with enough backstory for the reader to empathize and feel the pain of their plight.

The setting plays a large role in this story—it’s bleak and brutal, just like the events that take place along the way. The author’s descriptions of the landscape and the characters’ travels really add to the atmosphere of the story. I also thought that the pacing was spot-on. I was initially thrown off by the fact that there are no chapters within each section, but this did not affect the quality of the story for me. If anything, it propelled the story on, making it even more difficult for me to stop reading along the way. I enjoyed that each of the four parts brought different characters into focus, yet the others remain woven into the story in the background. It all came together perfectly at the end.

I could share even more thoughts on this novel, but I don’t want to give too much away. This is a book that you need to read for yourself and experience without spoilers. I teared-up several times while reading it—not only because of the brutality but due to the beauty in the writing. Each time I wanted to turn away, the words reached out like a hand on my chin, forcing my gaze back upon the story unfolding before me. I can’t imagine I’ll ever forget this one, nor do I want to.

[Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I remember before this was published the author tweeting about this book before the most brutal thing he'd written and thinking "oooh intriguing" but also not taking the brutal bit too seriously because most horror writers say that tbh. HOWEVER this book is fucking vicious. There's seriously *maybe* 2 not horrible things that happen in the entire book. The narrative perfectly captures the feeling of having a nightmare that turns into another nightmare, and another and another. (While not really similar, I felt it has an energy that kept reminding me of Blood Meridian)

And goddamn that's some beautiful prose. It was almost overwhelmingly gruesome and bleak (tbf I am getting pretty soft these days) but just so wonderfully written. Surreal and weird, emtional, even some humor (which I'll be honest I didn't really catch while reading cuz I was being cruuuuushed). I knew Day was a talented author, but I this makes me think I underestimated just how crazy good he is.

This is a tough one to recommend because ngl you start feeling hopeless with each page, but it's fantastic nonetheless

[Kim Napolitano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa. I have to say this one of the strangest books I’ve ever read. The 4 donkeys of the apocalypse.. born from hell. A psychopath returning from the mountains searching for his previous love and laying judgment and death on his travels with an other worldly Raven named Billings. James is either a demon or the Devil himself but he makes The Walkin’ Dude look like an amateur. Four men traveling to scene where the donkeys wrecked havoc for answers and then Ruth.. the one all arrows point to to end the waste and horrors in these badlands. The book is set into 4 parts though the stories seem separate, they are linked with common themes. There is no light here, God or no God.. it appears to be hell on earth. I’m surprised this is the authors first novel, I can’t wait for more! A strange adventure, thought provoking, gory and heartbreaking you won’t know what emotion to have next. Highly recommended! Read immediately!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won’t pretend to be a talented enough writer to pen a proper critique for GRIND YOUR BONES TO DUST. I am certain that many, many eloquent reviews are on their way.

There is so much about this book that I want to discuss, that I wish it had been a buddy-read. As it stands, I’m just bubbling with questions and observations and jaw-dropping exclamations and am without anyone to exchange those with. Perhaps I’ll reread it someday expressly for that purpose.

Easily one of the most memorable books I’ve read this year. That I own a signed copy of this book is SIGNIFICANTLY more valuable to me now that I’ve finished it. Definitely a treasure.

[Glenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal and horrific, with the added bonus of beautifully written prose.  I loved this book, even when I was feeling the need to scrub my soul clean.  I will definitely be looking for more of Day's work in the future.

And I will never look at a donkey the same way again.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely recommend this book! But, be warned, it contains brutal acts of violence, and I mean BRUTAL. Not for sensitive readers. 😮😞😫That said, the villains here are absolutely unique! And the language..😍 carefully chosen words and not one out of place. I found the tone to be really bleak, it reminded me a little of Black Star, Black Sun by Rich Hawkins. Why not 5 stars? I feel like there is something missing for me, storywise. Just personal taste. Can I imagine to pick it up again? Yes!

[Diego Cepeda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyrical, violent and deeply nihilistic horror. It's my first book by Nicholas Day, and it certainly won't be the last.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oof! Not at all sure what I just read. The horror parts were good. Excellent even. But the rest...I felt like I was having a fever dream or something. Not my thing.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copy received in exchange for an honest review.

Dangerous, deadly creatures emerge from the night, leaving nothing but slaughter in their wake. But monstrous beasts aren’t the only evil haunting these pages. Enter a preacher and raven, determined to cause as much destruction as the flesh-eating donkeys in the desert.

It’s rare I would describe horror as beautiful but damn, is this book beautiful. And haunting and violent and absolutely, utterly mesmerising.

The novel is split into four parts, each distinct and fresh, feeling perfectly blended to the character the prose is following. Each character feels unique, with everything needed from a character; their own wants, desires, arcs. Their own voice. Each section bleeds wonderfully into the next, leaving the reader wanting more with every page. The imagery is striking, the landscape terrifying, the events gripping. Day paints a bleak, unrelenting world, in a story of loss, love, redemption and pure horror. This is not a novel for the faint of heart, but one which will, without a doubt, linger with the reader for a long time to come.

[Daniplx · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 star - I liked it but didn't love it. This is another entry into my pile of weird, strange, quirky, dark and violent horror reads that I'm not 100% sure how I feel about it yet. This novel weaves together four different stories into one overarching narrative about good, evil, death, faith, revenge and feral donkeys. It also kind of reads like a western horror. It was a slow read for me, and I have to say I wasn't a fan of the big long parts vs. having chapters, but overall it did add to the atmosphere and build up to the somewhat exciting and sad climax of this book. It is violent and graphic - so beware of that if you can't stomach that kind of stuff. It'll leave me thinking for quite a while.

[Thomas Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essentially it is one story told in four separate, yet intertwining, parts. Each part is told from the point of view of different characters, with their own distinct voices, something Day does so well. The first part begins with Louis Loving running for his life. He and business partner, Elliot, are in the desert surveying land for the new Interstate Highway, when they are attacked by four man-eating donkeys. It sounds ridiculous when put plainly, but the way the attack is described is nothing short of terrifying. It makes for a powerful opening to the book and gives the reader just a glimpse of the tremendous violence they can expect. Louis survives, mainly due to the actions of a local farmer and his family who are familiar with the terrifying beasts. But the action quickly escalates and the stakes are raised. Day sprinkles nuggets of information throughout the narrative, hinting at the wife and child Louis has left behind to travel the country surveying with his best friend, and a tense relationship with his brother. It all makes for compelling reading. As does the voice of the characters, speaking with the cadence of honest, hardworking, simple folk, yet brimming with intelligence and fascinating insight.

Part two is singularly set on the troubled and disturbing mind of Louis’s brother, James Hayte. Obsessed with finding “his” Ruth (Louis’s wife), he ventures out of the forest home he shared with his father and embarks on a blood-soaked mission. He offers pearls of wisdom and preaching to anyone he meets, yet they are never words of comfort and are more likely to send chills down the spine of anyone who encounters him, including the reader. His are the actions of a depraved madman, the acts of gratuitous violence shocking and wicked. But it is clear to us that Day doesn’t include these moments simply for shock value; this is a truly disturbed and violent character, and the author seems to be only committed to portraying his characters in the most genuine and natural way. Once James is unleashed on the surrounding community who either help him find his Ruth or suffer the consequences of their unwillingness, his character unravels in the most naturally malevolent way possible. The extremes to which he will go are very chilling and are not for the faint-of-heart but neither is this book. It is beautifully written and endlessly quotable, but Day is unflinching in his devotion to delivering the complete story, which includes the deranged James Hayte. One small glimmer of light in this part is Hayte’s interaction with his companion, a large raven whose skull is devoid of flesh and whose eyes often flash red. The bird identifies itself as Josh Billings, which is the pen name of 19th century American humourist Henry Wheeler Shaw, and its speech is written down on the page as Billings wrote. Although often light-hearted, their interactions don’t disguise the fact that Billings is equally as vicious as Hayte, and often quotes lines from his own work to encourage Hayte on his path.

The third part is told in first person, from the point of view of Elliot’s son, Nicky. He writes a letter to childhood friend, Daniel Loving, pretending it is from Daniel’s mother, Ruth, informing him of his father’s disappearance. When Daniel returns home, it soon becomes clear that there is much more to the friendship than meets the eye, not least of all a simmering resentment. As with the previous acts, layers of detail are subtly added to the back stories of the characters, offering insight in one breath, while creating intrigue in the next. Questions are posed and answered throughout, most often at different times, keeping the reader invested. The friction between family members and friends is compelling enough. But the added dimension of the supernatural and horrific elements only drives the tension even harder. Accompanied by two more seasoned travellers, Nicky and Danny venture out into the desert in search of their fathers, only to encounter both man-eating donkeys and a crazed murderer. The circumstances of the meeting – at night and in the middle of nowhere – proves to be most unsettlingly effective, as too is the portrayal of the passage of time.

The final act serves as both the story of the elusive Ruth, and the culmination of the entire story. Here each separate narrative strand, which has been slowly winding together through Day’s remarkable storytelling, is suddenly tightly coiled. The wife of Louis, object of James’s unhinged desire, and mother of Danny, Ruth sits at the very centre of the tale. We learn about her own sad past, the one shared with James and Louis, and how it has made her the woman she has become. She proves to be as fallible as any other human being, and revelations soon spill out to bring the story to an explosive ending.

The structure of the story – delivered in four parts and with details hinted at in earlier pages to be unfurled later – is handled with such intricate care that can only be attributed to a gifted storyteller. Whether plotter or pantser, it takes an author of tremendous skill and determination to pull it off. The unique voice of each narrator is captured perfectly; even the voice of one of the most wicked characters we’ve ever encountered, which would be troubling, if Day’s warmth and generosity weren’t so widely displayed through his online interactions with fans. That such a well-balanced author can so easily convey the darkness at the heart of a monster is equally awe-inspiring and envy-inducing. And his command of language is breath-taking. We used the term “endlessly quotable” earlier and we’d challenge any reader to go more than a couple of pages without finding a sentence or passage that doesn’t evoke emotion or imagery. Not everyone enjoys rereading a book, but this one is filled with so much great content and literary references (some of which no doubt went over our heads first time around) that it will surely be as rewarding after the third or fourth read as it was the first time.

With Grind Your Bones to Dust, Day takes us on a tense journey down a dark, desolate road. And the lights are out. Veer too much to one side and we are rewarded with unapologetic violence, both natural and supernatural. Pull to the other side and we experience the full range of human emotion through the eyes of wonderfully vivid characters, including one man gripped by madness and another who is haunted by it. And it isn't our hands on the steering wheel. All we can do is sit back, put our faith in our guide, and enjoy the ride. The perfect blend of character, voice and setting, Grind Your Bones to Dust is cause for celebration. As is an author whose tremendous ability as a storyteller is only growing with every publication.

UPDATE 29/06/24
I've just reread the book and, goddamn if it isn't every bit as good as I remembered and then some. Poetry in violence throughout, it is such a joy to read. I hope to read more from Nick, some day. But I'll always have this masterpiece to reread whenever I want. And, for that, I'm grateful.

[Philip Haagensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled a bit with this one and I don’t know why. A tale told in four “chapters”, wrapping up neatly in the end, Nicholas Day knows how to pen a sentence. But I constantly found myself picking this up and putting it down after reading 20 or so pages, never able to keep up momentum. Should have finished it a lot quicker than I did.

I couldn’t really invest myself in any of the characters. The structure of the story didn’t really let you get close to any of them. Additionally, it seemed that many of the characters spoke with way too much introspection and social commentary. A character’s answer to a question was never just a face value answer; it seemed to always connote a deeper meaning. Prime offender here is Billings the skull faced raven, always spouting off existential judgment and “voice of reason” phrases. Not a new literary device—done a little more fluidly in Peter Beagle’s “A Fine and Private Place”.

That said, my favorite parts were in the second chapter where we followed James Hayte, the book’s antagonist. A truly evil and demonic character, bereft of any shred of decency, reminiscent of Anton Chigurh from McCarthy’s “No Country For Old Men”. But Day continued to have him spout cryptic phrases about good and evil, which sound important but left me in “what did I just read” mode.

The story ties together nicely at the end, but with not enough meat before then in my opinion. I know some people whose opinions I respect REALLY loved this book. I struggled to finish it and it didn’t fully resonate with me. I might pick it up again in the future as maybe I just wasn’t in the right mindset to get through it. It just seemed a little too self important in my opinion. Still, some heavy scenes and grisly pockets of violence peppered the narrative to my taste, keeping me at least turning those 20 pages every night before bed. I’ll likely give Nicholas Day another chance and chalk this one up to just not my thing.

3 out of 5 stars.

[Daron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is brutal. Full stop. And this point can't be over-exaggerated. That said it's also beautifully written, and the story is quite powerful.

Two things kept me from giving the 5th star - both of them personal preferences.

1) I wasn't overly fond of the omniscient narrator. There was too much head-hopping for my tastes, which it made it confusing to know whose head I was supposed to be in. This was most awkward in the 1st person section that jumped into someone else's head in 3rd person. There were also times when we're firmly in one character's head, and the narrator tells us things about other characters that the POV character can't possibly know.

2) Very little is explained. I say that being a fan of open-ended stories, as well as stories that don't spell everything out. But here, none of the supernatural elements are explained at all, which made me feel a little cheated.

All that said, this book is wonderful. I definitely recommend it, but only if you have the stomach for some serious psychological trauma and gore.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full Review on CharmandaReads.com

Nicholas Day writes in a way that is so meticulous and beautiful, I knew I was in for something a little heavier than your run of the mill horror story. I was right - this book is instead a poetic masterpiece of violence, tragedy, and originality.

Semi-Western horror, good vs evil, faith in Hell, this book had a lot going on. I did enjoy how different it was, but my inability to completely understand kept me from loving it as many others did. I am honestly struggling to appropriately review this book because I felt as though I was I too distracted to give it the full attention I believe it needs. That being said, Grind Your Bones to Dust clearly did not command my full attention. I think this is a strong case of user error, so please take my three star rating with a grain of salt!

If you are looking for a straightforward gory horror story, this is not the book for you. If you want a story that transports you to a Hell that looks mightily familiar, I would recommend you pick this up.

[Wicked Books & Brews Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

We had mixed reviews about this book initially. Before coming together for our book club meeting, there were some of us who loved it. Some who didn't like it at all. But one thing we agreed on right away was that the writing was fantastic. And it felt like there was a purpose to everything he put in that book. Once we came into our meeting and started to dissect the story, everything started to come together. Half of us started to relive the existential crisis we had when we read the book and some just started their crisis with this book for the first time. Everything from Shakespeare, to the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, Nihilism and the chaos of our current climate came into play during a very deep conversation about this book. Because of how this book is written and how DARK it really is, you're either going to love it or you're going to have a tough time with it. But we all agreed it had a purpose.

[Gloria · Rating 1 out of 5]

God if I could rate it less than one star I absolutely would have. This is supreme edgelord nonsense. It really feels like the author just tried entirely too hard to be THE darkest and THE edgiest author he could POSSIBLY BE. It comes off real try hardy. I could almost sense the superiority and the “oh I bet the reader is too vanilla for THIS!” from behind the page. AnD hE wOuLd NeVeR bE dEaDeR. I wish I was dead after reading this dumb shit.