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Ghost River
Everything dies in the desert.
Orphan Rock, that little sunset town in the middle of the Ghost River Nation.
Locals call the land haunted.
Wiser folk call it cursed.
Whatever the case may be, something evil’s stirring under the dirt.
This is the story about the folks who still live out there.
And the dead ones too.
Part horror, part American magical realism, Chad Ryan’s Ghost River is a dark, gritty, and desolate journey into the peaks and gulches of the human spirit.
ADVISORY:
This dark tale is for mature readers (age 18+).
It explores sensitive subject matter, including scenes of graphic violence, sexual situations, and disturbing imagery, language, and concepts that readers may find unsettling. Themes of misogyny, domestic abuse, and sexual assault may be triggering for some readers. Proceed with caution.
Orphan Rock, that little sunset town in the middle of the Ghost River Nation.
Locals call the land haunted.
Wiser folk call it cursed.
Whatever the case may be, something evil’s stirring under the dirt.
This is the story about the folks who still live out there.
And the dead ones too.
Part horror, part American magical realism, Chad Ryan’s Ghost River is a dark, gritty, and desolate journey into the peaks and gulches of the human spirit.
ADVISORY:
This dark tale is for mature readers (age 18+).
It explores sensitive subject matter, including scenes of graphic violence, sexual situations, and disturbing imagery, language, and concepts that readers may find unsettling. Themes of misogyny, domestic abuse, and sexual assault may be triggering for some readers. Proceed with caution.
485 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2020
75 people are currently reading
845 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 5, 2023
Wildly original, warped, and creepy as hell!
There is a lot to unpack here and I'm not sure I'm able to describe it in such a way as to get your attention. First things first, though, if you have any triggers this may not be the book for you. It's brutally violent, with wild ideas, places and creations. If you think you might have a problem with it, you probably will and it's really best that you stay away.
Now, picture a family living in a small desert town. Next, throw out any ideas you might about that family and enter the world of Ghost River. A world where ancient promises and vows are still upheld to this day. A world where people and children become...transformed. A world where the corruption goes all the way down, deep into the dirt. Now, the scene has been set and I will add nothing more to spoil the story for you.
Focusing on how this book made me feel-it was a full range of emotion. At times I was happy for Minister and Ester, (not sure how it's spelled, since I listened to this on audio), and at other times I pitied them, and yet at other times, I loathed them. The coyote and the snake. The Pig Father. Spider girl and the boy wrapped in barbed wire. The sisters of sorrow. The boy king. Machado the sheriff. All of which had my emotions changing from one moment to the next.
Ghost River features an old world trying to stand fast against the approaching modern world. Bad as that old world was, I still am not sure that the new world will be any better. As I mentioned, I experienced a full range of emotions while reading and I know I will be thinking about this world for a long time. Even though it took a bit of patience to stay with this, I trusted in the author's ability to make it all clear, and he eventually did. It's astonishing to me that this is the author's debut novel. I am excited to see what he does next!
The narrator, Andrew Gibson, is new to me, but he did a terrific job with this. I'll be keeping an eye out for his name on Audible, because I was truly impressed.
Highly recommended, but please heed my warning above, and the author's warning at the beginning of the book. Then, prepare to be blown away!
*Thanks to the author for the Audible download in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!
There is a lot to unpack here and I'm not sure I'm able to describe it in such a way as to get your attention. First things first, though, if you have any triggers this may not be the book for you. It's brutally violent, with wild ideas, places and creations. If you think you might have a problem with it, you probably will and it's really best that you stay away.
Now, picture a family living in a small desert town. Next, throw out any ideas you might about that family and enter the world of Ghost River. A world where ancient promises and vows are still upheld to this day. A world where people and children become...transformed. A world where the corruption goes all the way down, deep into the dirt. Now, the scene has been set and I will add nothing more to spoil the story for you.
Focusing on how this book made me feel-it was a full range of emotion. At times I was happy for Minister and Ester, (not sure how it's spelled, since I listened to this on audio), and at other times I pitied them, and yet at other times, I loathed them. The coyote and the snake. The Pig Father. Spider girl and the boy wrapped in barbed wire. The sisters of sorrow. The boy king. Machado the sheriff. All of which had my emotions changing from one moment to the next.
Ghost River features an old world trying to stand fast against the approaching modern world. Bad as that old world was, I still am not sure that the new world will be any better. As I mentioned, I experienced a full range of emotions while reading and I know I will be thinking about this world for a long time. Even though it took a bit of patience to stay with this, I trusted in the author's ability to make it all clear, and he eventually did. It's astonishing to me that this is the author's debut novel. I am excited to see what he does next!
The narrator, Andrew Gibson, is new to me, but he did a terrific job with this. I'll be keeping an eye out for his name on Audible, because I was truly impressed.
Highly recommended, but please heed my warning above, and the author's warning at the beginning of the book. Then, prepare to be blown away!
*Thanks to the author for the Audible download in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!
January 2, 2021
I had no idea what to expect going into this other than I knew it would be good. His debut novel, Chad Ryan had written a few great short stories I'd read before, but nothing remotely of this depth and caliber. Let me be clear (and pardon my language): I fucking loved this book. It blew me utterly away. For a guy's DEBUT novel to be THIS good is... almost insulting (I'm working on my debut as I write this review).
It starts off at a frenetic pace, introducing you to a filthy, hopeless world and to tortured, haunted "heroes," and ominous, intimidating monsters. It will challenge you. It is DARK. I have a stomach for this kind of tale and it still made me physically uncomfortable within the first 50 pages, so there's your warning. But it will also make you want to hold these characters and tell them everything is going to be okay. It might make you cry (almost got me, author, almost got me). It is a whirlwind of nonstop action and heavy, engrossing characters with deeply intertwined, deeply personal stories that builds pressure until it all finally comes to an explosive final act.
If you like horror, if you like, hell, dark video games, if you like series with shifting POVs and lots of thoroughly outlined characters for you to hate or root for, you will LOVE this series. If you get nightmares from watching the X-Files, I will say, you don't want to read this book. The whole thing is a horrific, visceral experience and it comes with a trigger warning for good reason. But if that kind of thing doesn't scare you away, I'm telling you, you've gotta read this thing. You'll thank me.
It starts off at a frenetic pace, introducing you to a filthy, hopeless world and to tortured, haunted "heroes," and ominous, intimidating monsters. It will challenge you. It is DARK. I have a stomach for this kind of tale and it still made me physically uncomfortable within the first 50 pages, so there's your warning. But it will also make you want to hold these characters and tell them everything is going to be okay. It might make you cry (almost got me, author, almost got me). It is a whirlwind of nonstop action and heavy, engrossing characters with deeply intertwined, deeply personal stories that builds pressure until it all finally comes to an explosive final act.
If you like horror, if you like, hell, dark video games, if you like series with shifting POVs and lots of thoroughly outlined characters for you to hate or root for, you will LOVE this series. If you get nightmares from watching the X-Files, I will say, you don't want to read this book. The whole thing is a horrific, visceral experience and it comes with a trigger warning for good reason. But if that kind of thing doesn't scare you away, I'm telling you, you've gotta read this thing. You'll thank me.
December 20, 2020
Ghost River is an immersive, unrelenting curse that reshapes everything we think we know into something unrecognizable. Starkly original and anchored in the modern world by the merest of threads, this novel demands the reader plunge into battle from the first page and refuses to offer sanctuary even after the end. Hope is a skeleton key, we're told, but there is no hope, no promise, no light in this dark maze down which we hurtle, broken, abandoned, and eviscerated. Reading this book is a commitment, and the cost is high. If Ryan can conjure the demons on these pages, there's no limit to what he'll create. A truly spectacular horror unlike anything you've ever read before.
October 26, 2021
This is the first horror book I’ve read in years and I’ve read it twice (this time for review purposes)—The Content Warning-CW should be taken very seriously. I had nightmares for over a week.
There are some deeply disturbing characters, plots/subplots and imagery that will haunt you.
Many of the descriptions are so well written that they are downright beautiful. This is a debut novel and it bolts out of the gate like a 3 YO Thoroughbred.
Layers upon layers of depravity, demons, deprivation of hope and death- lots and lots of death. When cracked open you have a lot of themes that often cause us to look away: perversity of religions and mythologies, misogyny, child abuse, and human trafficking.
I found myself asking “Can broken people love?” or “Do hurt people always hurt people?” “What constitutes a family?” Freud would have a field day: There are multiple maternal figures—each more dysfunctional than the last.
Abuse disguised as love.
“Men are pigs”
Everything dies in the desert.
This is all set in an apocalyptic setting with such amazing imagery that I could easily see it translated directly onto film. Whether or not I’d be capable of watching it is an entirely different question.
There are some deeply disturbing characters, plots/subplots and imagery that will haunt you.
Many of the descriptions are so well written that they are downright beautiful. This is a debut novel and it bolts out of the gate like a 3 YO Thoroughbred.
Layers upon layers of depravity, demons, deprivation of hope and death- lots and lots of death. When cracked open you have a lot of themes that often cause us to look away: perversity of religions and mythologies, misogyny, child abuse, and human trafficking.
I found myself asking “Can broken people love?” or “Do hurt people always hurt people?” “What constitutes a family?” Freud would have a field day: There are multiple maternal figures—each more dysfunctional than the last.
Abuse disguised as love.
“Men are pigs”
Everything dies in the desert.
This is all set in an apocalyptic setting with such amazing imagery that I could easily see it translated directly onto film. Whether or not I’d be capable of watching it is an entirely different question.
October 21, 2022
ghost river.
I have never read anything remotely like this fantastically insane book. It is a phantasmagorical world filled with the bizarre, and terrifying, denizens of Orphan Rock. There are layers of evil in this story, mixed with striations of good, and hope. The female characters are strong and fearless, even the little ones. Filled with unique, incredibly original, deeply disturbing, delightfully creepy characters that will stay with me for a very long time. I am in awe of the mind that created this grotesque, yet strangely appealing story. Genius. I LOVED this one so damn much. Thank you for sharing this book with me, Chad.
I have never read anything remotely like this fantastically insane book. It is a phantasmagorical world filled with the bizarre, and terrifying, denizens of Orphan Rock. There are layers of evil in this story, mixed with striations of good, and hope. The female characters are strong and fearless, even the little ones. Filled with unique, incredibly original, deeply disturbing, delightfully creepy characters that will stay with me for a very long time. I am in awe of the mind that created this grotesque, yet strangely appealing story. Genius. I LOVED this one so damn much. Thank you for sharing this book with me, Chad.
April 14, 2021
This is really an astonishing piece of work. Part magic realism, part family drama, part horror, the occupants of Ghost River are trapped by their ties to the land, their relationships and the forces around them. The depth of imagination it took to pull this off is genuinely impressive and where it rarely stutters it does so because it occasionally struggles to continue at the standard it has set itself. I reckon the author is one to watch.
March 24, 2021
This is, quite simply, the most gripping horror story I've ever read.
Ghost River came highly recommended and even though the genre isn't my first choice for kicking back with a good book, I was unable to put the book down.
Ryan's writing style rivals any of the horror superstars.
This book is dark. It's gritty.
It's an in your face, down in the muck, beat-the-hell-out-of-your-soul ride.
Ghost River came highly recommended and even though the genre isn't my first choice for kicking back with a good book, I was unable to put the book down.
Ryan's writing style rivals any of the horror superstars.
This book is dark. It's gritty.
It's an in your face, down in the muck, beat-the-hell-out-of-your-soul ride.
September 11, 2021
I really struggled with this one. This is not the book I expected it would be. Based on the trigger warnings, I was expecting it to be far more brutal and graphic, but a lot of that was more suggested than detailed. Instead of what I was hoping for, I got a very long and frustrating story that I'm starting to think I should have abandoned.
I think I would have benefitted greatly from having a pad of paper and a pen by my side from the start to track names, locations, species, and a timeline. That's mainly due to the fact that an entire religion is being created from scratch and for this author that means it also includes a ton of backstory and history of a world that needs to be created from scratch as well in order to build that religion. Oh, and the creation of several different species on top of that.
I found this all to be overly complicated and things became hard to follow very early on. The timeline jumps back and forth from past to present without a natural flow. Characters have different names for the same person/species/being, but it takes a while to figure out that they are one and the same. There is also a lack of coherent physical descriptions of the characters which is particularly frustrating in the creations of the different species. Some have details and others are extremely vague. I got so confused by characters being called certain animals, but only the slightest descriptive nods to what that could possibly mean. Is a coyote meant to be a term for certain people or is it their true identity? Is this guy actually a snake, a snake-human hybrid, or something else entirely? Sometimes this is answered, but many times it never is or it comes so late in the story that after all the name changes and delay in the reveal, you've completely forgotten who it was to begin with.
Each time a character is added (which happens a lot), no matter how small their ultimate role was, they are given an entire history, but periphery characters really don't need that. I felt in many cases that large chunks of this book could have been cut to sentences or a few paragraphs rather than entire chapters. It all started to drag on and on for a very small payoff of a fast paced but very short ending
If you like to think a lot, can handle the trigger warnings that are very clearly noted at the beginning, and want to immerse yourself in someone building an entire religion, different species, and a whole town/world then this is right up your alley. It turns out I am not that type of person.
I think I would have benefitted greatly from having a pad of paper and a pen by my side from the start to track names, locations, species, and a timeline. That's mainly due to the fact that an entire religion is being created from scratch and for this author that means it also includes a ton of backstory and history of a world that needs to be created from scratch as well in order to build that religion. Oh, and the creation of several different species on top of that.
I found this all to be overly complicated and things became hard to follow very early on. The timeline jumps back and forth from past to present without a natural flow. Characters have different names for the same person/species/being, but it takes a while to figure out that they are one and the same. There is also a lack of coherent physical descriptions of the characters which is particularly frustrating in the creations of the different species. Some have details and others are extremely vague. I got so confused by characters being called certain animals, but only the slightest descriptive nods to what that could possibly mean. Is a coyote meant to be a term for certain people or is it their true identity? Is this guy actually a snake, a snake-human hybrid, or something else entirely? Sometimes this is answered, but many times it never is or it comes so late in the story that after all the name changes and delay in the reveal, you've completely forgotten who it was to begin with.
Each time a character is added (which happens a lot), no matter how small their ultimate role was, they are given an entire history, but periphery characters really don't need that. I felt in many cases that large chunks of this book could have been cut to sentences or a few paragraphs rather than entire chapters. It all started to drag on and on for a very small payoff of a fast paced but very short ending
If you like to think a lot, can handle the trigger warnings that are very clearly noted at the beginning, and want to immerse yourself in someone building an entire religion, different species, and a whole town/world then this is right up your alley. It turns out I am not that type of person.
June 9, 2021
Ghost River was way outside of my normal reading genre with it being a mix of horror and American magical realism and it therefore took me much longer to read it than normal. I enjoyed this dark and twisted tale and am blown away that this is Chad Ryan's debut novel. His writing is impeccable and his story-telling ability is superb.
What I loved:
This has such a unique premise full of unexpected twists and turns. I grew very attached to some of the characters and even shed a few tears, along with gasping in horror many, many times. The story kept me engrossed and on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next.
What I didn't enjoy:
Perhaps because this is outside of my normal genre, I had a very difficult time keeping track of all the characters. Many of them had multiple names and I just couldn't keep up with who was who. A character guide with all the different names would have been helpful. If I re-read this, I will make one for myself so it's easier to keep track of.
This book also started in the middle of the action and I honestly didn't understand what was happening for the first 50ish pages. I reached out to the author via Twitter and he helped explain it to me which I greatly appreciated. Once he caught me up to speed, it was much easier sailing throughout the book.
The writing style reminded me of a mashup between Clive Barker and Stephen King. I'd highly recommend it for any Barker or King lovers. Please heed the trigger warnings which Ryan displays on the first page of the book.
Overall, excellent debut novel. I can't wait to read whatever Chad Ryan writes next.
What I loved:
This has such a unique premise full of unexpected twists and turns. I grew very attached to some of the characters and even shed a few tears, along with gasping in horror many, many times. The story kept me engrossed and on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next.
What I didn't enjoy:
Perhaps because this is outside of my normal genre, I had a very difficult time keeping track of all the characters. Many of them had multiple names and I just couldn't keep up with who was who. A character guide with all the different names would have been helpful. If I re-read this, I will make one for myself so it's easier to keep track of.
This book also started in the middle of the action and I honestly didn't understand what was happening for the first 50ish pages. I reached out to the author via Twitter and he helped explain it to me which I greatly appreciated. Once he caught me up to speed, it was much easier sailing throughout the book.
The writing style reminded me of a mashup between Clive Barker and Stephen King. I'd highly recommend it for any Barker or King lovers. Please heed the trigger warnings which Ryan displays on the first page of the book.
Overall, excellent debut novel. I can't wait to read whatever Chad Ryan writes next.
November 12, 2021
A truly unique and, at times, mind-blowing book which explores some of the deepest, darkest facets of human nature.
Chad Ryan has not only created religions and monsters in 'Ghost River', he has also created a method of storytelling which I don't think I have ever encountered before.
If you want to be shocked, to be amazed and to experience something truly original, I can thoroughly recommend 'Ghost River'.
Certainly not for the faint of heart, though...
Chad Ryan has not only created religions and monsters in 'Ghost River', he has also created a method of storytelling which I don't think I have ever encountered before.
If you want to be shocked, to be amazed and to experience something truly original, I can thoroughly recommend 'Ghost River'.
Certainly not for the faint of heart, though...
November 8, 2020
Please! Please read this book! Definitely, a must-read for any horror fan or enthusiast. This story grips you and drags you in and doesn't let you go from start to finish. I am not going to say much more for fear of spoilers but this book is award-worthy like the Bram Stoker awards.
March 9, 2021
I will never forgive you of this, Mr. Ryan...
I don't know why I thought that this was going to be a cute, little spooky hayride where Chad Ryan seduced me into an incredible world of horror, all the while drinking apple cider...but I did.
So, it was a complete shock for me when he dragged me off the wagon and threw me into the deep, inky shadows where his monsters waited.
...he had not fed them in a while...
While I adore pain and suffering in my books, I prefer it to be between two willing spirits seeking release rather than drowning in hopelessness. Every night, as I entered my bedroom, Ghost River would sit on my cluttered nightstand, hiding beneath its innocent cover, waiting to see if I was brave enough to venture back into Mr. Ryan's sadistic story. And every night, I would pick it back up without fail, ready for him to ruin me further.
Anyone can be a writer...but not everyone can be a story-teller like Mr. Ryan.
P.S., my therapist would like a word...
I don't know why I thought that this was going to be a cute, little spooky hayride where Chad Ryan seduced me into an incredible world of horror, all the while drinking apple cider...but I did.
So, it was a complete shock for me when he dragged me off the wagon and threw me into the deep, inky shadows where his monsters waited.
...he had not fed them in a while...
While I adore pain and suffering in my books, I prefer it to be between two willing spirits seeking release rather than drowning in hopelessness. Every night, as I entered my bedroom, Ghost River would sit on my cluttered nightstand, hiding beneath its innocent cover, waiting to see if I was brave enough to venture back into Mr. Ryan's sadistic story. And every night, I would pick it back up without fail, ready for him to ruin me further.
Anyone can be a writer...but not everyone can be a story-teller like Mr. Ryan.
P.S., my therapist would like a word...
January 5, 2021
Wow. Full stop. This book is so fucking awesome. I'm emphasizing that for the first time ever in one of my reviews. I'm glad this was my last read of 2020 and first finished of 2021 - by the time I was done, I had thoroughly realized that Ghost River was exactly the book I had desired to read, and I had enjoyed my stay. I even found myself drawn to have several binge reading sessions, and it feels like it's been a while since I've found a read which could compel reading for as many good rounds as this book did. Bravo!
The beginning was a bit of a hump for me to get over, I think because I read during the holidays and I'm not typically drawn to the way the content is often delivered to the reader: out of order and in short engagements, which from the start are drenched in blood and viscera that quickly desensitized me. Verdant streams of consciousness and events erupted my sense of morality and justice like I was in the center of a volcano, and all-around in winding loops and twirls connected by tunnels unknown to me, Ryan proved he is a master weaver of story and narrative. Ghost River is certainly a standard-bearer for the genre, but its vision is unparalleled and won't be eclipsed by time either. It's a wonderful day when you can look over at a book you finished reading, and do nothing but grin at the respect felt for the author who made it happen.
The strength of Ghost River truly comes from its cast of characters who're each fully-fledged, given the time and care to shine throughout the plot, and develop upon heroes journies, which when completed, shatters the world in waves and tsunamis. The setting earned my respect, over time, and when I had formlings of criticisms shaping in my mind, the plot seemed to detect this and would navigate in the direction I wanted it to go in. I think that the injuns get a little lost during the climactic showdown over the last 80 pages, but they still proved themselves to be resilient survivors living so close to great evil and master manipulators the way that they prompted the prompt to move along. As the book eventually comes to remind us, Ghost River could be only the beginning. Misery is a machine.
Continuing on that thought, I believe Ryan did an adequate job leading us (the reader) through the hive of a very demented read, dredged from the deepest crevasses of the human mind. There were a few times when I feared that we might be going off on a long tangent of destruction or violence, but none of the aspects were particularly overbearing, and all of the ramifications weaved by the webs which created them came together very tightly. Everything is here for a great read, and it fires on all cylinders drenched in more gasoline if you are willing to stand by the fire and observe. Books like this are why I read, and I look forward to keeping my sanguine eyes locked Ryan's vibrantly coming career.
The beginning was a bit of a hump for me to get over, I think because I read during the holidays and I'm not typically drawn to the way the content is often delivered to the reader: out of order and in short engagements, which from the start are drenched in blood and viscera that quickly desensitized me. Verdant streams of consciousness and events erupted my sense of morality and justice like I was in the center of a volcano, and all-around in winding loops and twirls connected by tunnels unknown to me, Ryan proved he is a master weaver of story and narrative. Ghost River is certainly a standard-bearer for the genre, but its vision is unparalleled and won't be eclipsed by time either. It's a wonderful day when you can look over at a book you finished reading, and do nothing but grin at the respect felt for the author who made it happen.
The strength of Ghost River truly comes from its cast of characters who're each fully-fledged, given the time and care to shine throughout the plot, and develop upon heroes journies, which when completed, shatters the world in waves and tsunamis. The setting earned my respect, over time, and when I had formlings of criticisms shaping in my mind, the plot seemed to detect this and would navigate in the direction I wanted it to go in. I think that the injuns get a little lost during the climactic showdown over the last 80 pages, but they still proved themselves to be resilient survivors living so close to great evil and master manipulators the way that they prompted the prompt to move along. As the book eventually comes to remind us, Ghost River could be only the beginning. Misery is a machine.
Continuing on that thought, I believe Ryan did an adequate job leading us (the reader) through the hive of a very demented read, dredged from the deepest crevasses of the human mind. There were a few times when I feared that we might be going off on a long tangent of destruction or violence, but none of the aspects were particularly overbearing, and all of the ramifications weaved by the webs which created them came together very tightly. Everything is here for a great read, and it fires on all cylinders drenched in more gasoline if you are willing to stand by the fire and observe. Books like this are why I read, and I look forward to keeping my sanguine eyes locked Ryan's vibrantly coming career.
November 6, 2022
I just finished reading this, so I need to gather my thoughts now, as there are so many. I'd been working my way through this book for the better part of a year or more before starting over, mostly because of my own darkness getting in the way. And Dark is a prison.
Ghost River is a world of pain, suffering, dirt, grime, and pig men. Demi gods, pocket universes, and heroes you wouldn't expect to be heroes. And no one is perfect here. Everyone is messed up and dark in their own way, and not a single person is wholly good. They're mostly horrible people, but when a Hellish life of the worst traumas is all you have, you work with what you're given. You might even rise above it someday.
Esther and Minister, who is aptly named, have their share of the worst life possible. They're both raised in a small town where Father Pig, an ancient grotesque god, takes over chosen men to breed more children with boons, which are his children with special powers that can manipulate others or cause destruction. Snakes, which is what Minister is, can crawl into someone's head with a look alone, and it's a form of mind control.
Esther is just a poor woman who got caught up in all of it. She and Minister are there for each other though, and while Minister is the best man he is capable of being, despite being one of Father Pig's chosen, Esther is badass, strong, and doesn't deal with grief from anyone. She's hardened against the worst things in life, and I fell in love with her even throughout some of the truly dark stuff she does.
Delora, who is the head of Orphan Rock, is a shaper of worlds. She has a small army of broken children, which are husks from the children she kills, who are reborn into monstrous, lifeless horrors. This is her way of showing love, through pain, and she is a lover of children. Everything she does is to water the Grim Seed, which is fed with misery and suffering. And the Grim Seed grows beneath the chapel on the mound, just waiting to sprout forth...
Personally, Esther and Liz, who's a little girl who plays such a huge role in the story, stole my heart and I couldn't let them go. I still can't even after finishing. This story absolutely destroyed me emotionally by the end and it was difficult to get through. Not because of the gratuitous gore, gross-out stuff, or difficult scenes of very heavy trauma, but because of the underlying message that finally became clear to me when I reached the end. Not only was the reoccurring phrase, 'Dark is a prison' something that I understand, but near the end there were a few lines that got me pretty choked up with emotion because of how close to home they hit for me:
"Not trying is what cowards do. Even if you aren't special or have any destiny that brings any good to the world, you had a life. That was something. It wasn't what you had to do to survive that mattered; it was how you lived...even if you failed and sunk into the shit anyway."
I loved this book. So damn much. It was a gift (literally and metaphorically), and I've never read anything like it before. At times poetic, which I didn't realize tough and gritty horror could be, Ghost River stays with you. And for being Chad's first book, it's impressive. I've been recommending it to my friends and family who love horror. So if you can handle gross-out stuff, gore, and some extremely heavy subject matter (there is a trigger warning page at the beginning, which I greatly appreciated), definitely take the time to read this. I'm really looking forward to reading more of Chad's books.
Ghost River is a world of pain, suffering, dirt, grime, and pig men. Demi gods, pocket universes, and heroes you wouldn't expect to be heroes. And no one is perfect here. Everyone is messed up and dark in their own way, and not a single person is wholly good. They're mostly horrible people, but when a Hellish life of the worst traumas is all you have, you work with what you're given. You might even rise above it someday.
Esther and Minister, who is aptly named, have their share of the worst life possible. They're both raised in a small town where Father Pig, an ancient grotesque god, takes over chosen men to breed more children with boons, which are his children with special powers that can manipulate others or cause destruction. Snakes, which is what Minister is, can crawl into someone's head with a look alone, and it's a form of mind control.
Esther is just a poor woman who got caught up in all of it. She and Minister are there for each other though, and while Minister is the best man he is capable of being, despite being one of Father Pig's chosen, Esther is badass, strong, and doesn't deal with grief from anyone. She's hardened against the worst things in life, and I fell in love with her even throughout some of the truly dark stuff she does.
Delora, who is the head of Orphan Rock, is a shaper of worlds. She has a small army of broken children, which are husks from the children she kills, who are reborn into monstrous, lifeless horrors. This is her way of showing love, through pain, and she is a lover of children. Everything she does is to water the Grim Seed, which is fed with misery and suffering. And the Grim Seed grows beneath the chapel on the mound, just waiting to sprout forth...
Personally, Esther and Liz, who's a little girl who plays such a huge role in the story, stole my heart and I couldn't let them go. I still can't even after finishing. This story absolutely destroyed me emotionally by the end and it was difficult to get through. Not because of the gratuitous gore, gross-out stuff, or difficult scenes of very heavy trauma, but because of the underlying message that finally became clear to me when I reached the end. Not only was the reoccurring phrase, 'Dark is a prison' something that I understand, but near the end there were a few lines that got me pretty choked up with emotion because of how close to home they hit for me:
"Not trying is what cowards do. Even if you aren't special or have any destiny that brings any good to the world, you had a life. That was something. It wasn't what you had to do to survive that mattered; it was how you lived...even if you failed and sunk into the shit anyway."
I loved this book. So damn much. It was a gift (literally and metaphorically), and I've never read anything like it before. At times poetic, which I didn't realize tough and gritty horror could be, Ghost River stays with you. And for being Chad's first book, it's impressive. I've been recommending it to my friends and family who love horror. So if you can handle gross-out stuff, gore, and some extremely heavy subject matter (there is a trigger warning page at the beginning, which I greatly appreciated), definitely take the time to read this. I'm really looking forward to reading more of Chad's books.
January 23, 2021
What to say about Chad Ryan's Ghost River?
Ghost River is special, accessible, and full of buried bodies. One can read the surface or surface + depth and still have a great time. Lurid like vintage Clive Barker, but more emotive, more present in the body of the text. I think Chad loves these characters and those he doesn't, he hates with a burning passion. There is no objectivity and I love that. I see trends in pseudo-objective writing as if the narration is impartial to let the reader decide. Fuck that. Chad is in this book, in every line, lurid or loving. This boldness jumps out from the first few pages and in a marathon of endurance, endures through the entire hugeness of this beast of a book. I heard once, and it could be Neil Gaiman who said it, you know a thing is literature when it is so heavy it can be used as a weapon. This book is a weapon. This book is surviving cry in the dark night full of car crashes and hard rain. Don't ask me to compare it to any other single work as I don't think that is possible. The thing is gestalt, concrete, an aggregate mixed masterfully and I can not reconcile that this is Chad Ryan's first or at least debut novel.
Get it. Get a barf bag. Get your middle finger ready. Gird your loins. Smoke 'em if you got 'em. Chad Ryan is the King of the Road.
Ghost River is special, accessible, and full of buried bodies. One can read the surface or surface + depth and still have a great time. Lurid like vintage Clive Barker, but more emotive, more present in the body of the text. I think Chad loves these characters and those he doesn't, he hates with a burning passion. There is no objectivity and I love that. I see trends in pseudo-objective writing as if the narration is impartial to let the reader decide. Fuck that. Chad is in this book, in every line, lurid or loving. This boldness jumps out from the first few pages and in a marathon of endurance, endures through the entire hugeness of this beast of a book. I heard once, and it could be Neil Gaiman who said it, you know a thing is literature when it is so heavy it can be used as a weapon. This book is a weapon. This book is surviving cry in the dark night full of car crashes and hard rain. Don't ask me to compare it to any other single work as I don't think that is possible. The thing is gestalt, concrete, an aggregate mixed masterfully and I can not reconcile that this is Chad Ryan's first or at least debut novel.
Get it. Get a barf bag. Get your middle finger ready. Gird your loins. Smoke 'em if you got 'em. Chad Ryan is the King of the Road.
January 17, 2021
From the first page this book will grab you and pull you along through a world of ancient magic, evil and wonderfully broken people. I was completely unprepared for the sheer awesomeness of Chad's storytelling. He has an incredible imagination and—lucky for us—a true gift for putting it into words.
I have to admit, I have a thing for flawed or broken characters who aren't the stereotypical good guys. This book is over flowing with those, some human—some not. Absolutely brilliant. I've seen the word visceral used to describe this book, this is accurate. It is also compelling, terrifying and sad. It runs the gamut of emotions.
Spellbinding. Beautifully dark with complex characters and a unique setting, this story had me turning page after page. I did not want to put it down. It definitely left me wanting more. It's been a while since I've read something that honestly made me sad when I finished.
I have to admit, I have a thing for flawed or broken characters who aren't the stereotypical good guys. This book is over flowing with those, some human—some not. Absolutely brilliant. I've seen the word visceral used to describe this book, this is accurate. It is also compelling, terrifying and sad. It runs the gamut of emotions.
Spellbinding. Beautifully dark with complex characters and a unique setting, this story had me turning page after page. I did not want to put it down. It definitely left me wanting more. It's been a while since I've read something that honestly made me sad when I finished.
December 5, 2020
This review is also on http://dnruttan.com.
I received “Ghost River” by Chad Ryan, published by Lost Boys Press, as an e-ARC, an advance review copy, in exchange for an honest review. It took me a little time to read and this book is now available as a new release, but it’s definitely the kind of book that you want to take your time with, sink your teeth into, absorb into your marrow. This novel is an experience, a journey into a land of ancient predators and the power of the names that keep them in their boxes.
It’s a long read, an epic saga. It’s a story to which you make a commitment. On its surface, it is a monster book, but at its heart, it is a story about a family, the blood-soaked ties that bind, and the boxes of worlds that we trade for better boxes. This is a story of fear and love, loathing and revenge, power and control, mythos and modernity. This is the story of Ghost River, and more importantly, Orphan Rock, and the eclectic, dangerous melee that calls this particular box home.
Ghost River is a town in Arizona, a desert place between worlds, between the riverfolk and the desertfolk. In one world there is the tribe, which has always protected Orphan Rock and its fatal secrets from the outside world. But times are changing. Development is coming to Ghost River. First a freeway; then a casino. The old pacts wear down, are no longer valid for the times. Promises wear thin. The old world of Orphan Rock and its shapers of worlds have become mythos, fragments of memories. The monsters become greedy. Their egos enlarge. The Grim Seed always wants more; darkness is never satisfied.
Orphan Rock, you see, is a monster town. It serves the wills of Father Pig, and fighting for dominance, the Sisters of Sorrow. These ancient creatures, predators who subsist on human flesh, come from a crack in the worlds, a portal to another dimension. In Orphan Rock, everyone serves someone, and no one can ever leave. Or so they think. Years of servitude and grooming will do that. Dreams or dangerous. Or are they?
The Northamm family makes up the protagonists in the story; Esther, Minister, and their children, Little Snake and Dark Bird. Esther and Minister can leave the land, but the curse of the dirt keeps the monsters to the box. So Esther and Minister are the ones who feed their insatiable appetites. Love in the cages. Hoping for a better life. Or any life, at all, since choice isn’t something that people like them get to experience, those who are servants to the dark.
But like all monster books, who is really the monster here? The monsters become the sympathetic characters, and traditional narrative arcs twist and turn until you’re not sure in the end who the antagonist really is. Is it Father Pig and the Age of Filth? Is it the endless march of modernity, the people who forgot ancient promises? This is a monster book, but this is exquisite filth, reverent in its hideousness.
There is much to offend in these pages, but I found it a comfort read; because in the end, all good writing hopes to connect us to very human moments. Like Little Snake, escaping the confines of Orphan Rock for the promises of another Sister of Sorrow, Desyre, who made a little boy believe in a better box. It turned out to be just another box, and the boy wanted nothing more than to return home, with the wind on his face as he ran by the desert river, the home that he once wanted so badly to leave. Nothing more human than that, even for a snake.
The prose and writing style was choppy at times, a tug of active voice rapping on your spine; but this was for effect. This was a novel meant to be read aloud, to be experienced. Part of the experience of this storytelling was in the sounds of the writing, the sharp shock to the heart, the vivid descriptions of Arizona desert and ancient dreams and immortal death.
This book, in a word, was a “Wow.” This is the best of indie. Give it a chance, even if you don’t like horror or magic realism. It will make you cringe, and then it will make you revel in its gruesome glory. This may be a monster book, but it’s really, in the end, a human book. It’s a book about what breaks us, and what keeps us together, what keeps us moving, what gives us reasons to get up anyway despite all the burdens of all the worlds. We need more books like this. More stories that help us remember those things, ancient promises stirring, whispering to us from across the desert scrub in the midnight black. Welcome to Ghost River, indeed. You might never want to leave.
I received “Ghost River” by Chad Ryan, published by Lost Boys Press, as an e-ARC, an advance review copy, in exchange for an honest review. It took me a little time to read and this book is now available as a new release, but it’s definitely the kind of book that you want to take your time with, sink your teeth into, absorb into your marrow. This novel is an experience, a journey into a land of ancient predators and the power of the names that keep them in their boxes.
It’s a long read, an epic saga. It’s a story to which you make a commitment. On its surface, it is a monster book, but at its heart, it is a story about a family, the blood-soaked ties that bind, and the boxes of worlds that we trade for better boxes. This is a story of fear and love, loathing and revenge, power and control, mythos and modernity. This is the story of Ghost River, and more importantly, Orphan Rock, and the eclectic, dangerous melee that calls this particular box home.
Ghost River is a town in Arizona, a desert place between worlds, between the riverfolk and the desertfolk. In one world there is the tribe, which has always protected Orphan Rock and its fatal secrets from the outside world. But times are changing. Development is coming to Ghost River. First a freeway; then a casino. The old pacts wear down, are no longer valid for the times. Promises wear thin. The old world of Orphan Rock and its shapers of worlds have become mythos, fragments of memories. The monsters become greedy. Their egos enlarge. The Grim Seed always wants more; darkness is never satisfied.
Orphan Rock, you see, is a monster town. It serves the wills of Father Pig, and fighting for dominance, the Sisters of Sorrow. These ancient creatures, predators who subsist on human flesh, come from a crack in the worlds, a portal to another dimension. In Orphan Rock, everyone serves someone, and no one can ever leave. Or so they think. Years of servitude and grooming will do that. Dreams or dangerous. Or are they?
The Northamm family makes up the protagonists in the story; Esther, Minister, and their children, Little Snake and Dark Bird. Esther and Minister can leave the land, but the curse of the dirt keeps the monsters to the box. So Esther and Minister are the ones who feed their insatiable appetites. Love in the cages. Hoping for a better life. Or any life, at all, since choice isn’t something that people like them get to experience, those who are servants to the dark.
But like all monster books, who is really the monster here? The monsters become the sympathetic characters, and traditional narrative arcs twist and turn until you’re not sure in the end who the antagonist really is. Is it Father Pig and the Age of Filth? Is it the endless march of modernity, the people who forgot ancient promises? This is a monster book, but this is exquisite filth, reverent in its hideousness.
There is much to offend in these pages, but I found it a comfort read; because in the end, all good writing hopes to connect us to very human moments. Like Little Snake, escaping the confines of Orphan Rock for the promises of another Sister of Sorrow, Desyre, who made a little boy believe in a better box. It turned out to be just another box, and the boy wanted nothing more than to return home, with the wind on his face as he ran by the desert river, the home that he once wanted so badly to leave. Nothing more human than that, even for a snake.
The prose and writing style was choppy at times, a tug of active voice rapping on your spine; but this was for effect. This was a novel meant to be read aloud, to be experienced. Part of the experience of this storytelling was in the sounds of the writing, the sharp shock to the heart, the vivid descriptions of Arizona desert and ancient dreams and immortal death.
This book, in a word, was a “Wow.” This is the best of indie. Give it a chance, even if you don’t like horror or magic realism. It will make you cringe, and then it will make you revel in its gruesome glory. This may be a monster book, but it’s really, in the end, a human book. It’s a book about what breaks us, and what keeps us together, what keeps us moving, what gives us reasons to get up anyway despite all the burdens of all the worlds. We need more books like this. More stories that help us remember those things, ancient promises stirring, whispering to us from across the desert scrub in the midnight black. Welcome to Ghost River, indeed. You might never want to leave.
February 16, 2021
I absolutely loved this book, and I was drawn in from the get go. The story told was full of broken characters and sharp edges and that's what I am here for. This book and Chad's skillful writing kept me reading even when I knew I needed to put the book down and go to sleep. There were more than a few nights that I stayed up too late reading Ghost River.
I want more.
I want more.
November 8, 2020
A horror story that takes place in a little town in the Ghost River area, the vivid locale sets the atmosphere for truly unique tale. If I ever visit the desert, I’ll certainly be jumping at the shadows after reading this book.
More than just landscape, the characters are well developed. Right away we meet Esther and Minister, but they are soon joined by a fairly large cast. It can be disorienting to jump right into this dark and twisted tale, but things do fall into place. Thankfully, the time spent detailing the main characters really makes them stand out and stay with you for a while.
I don’t know that I can get into the plot without giving too much away, so I’ll say that the story keeps you interested right up until the end. It’s a long book, almost 500 pages, but it never feels weighed down. You will definitely not be bored. It’s more like being strapped into a haunted ride at a demonic carnival and constantly being shocked at the things you see. Word of warning, this book is extremely graphic. Torture, brutal murder – you name it, it’s in here. If this would be disturbing, this book probably isn’t for you. Otherwise, enjoy the ride!
Please note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
More than just landscape, the characters are well developed. Right away we meet Esther and Minister, but they are soon joined by a fairly large cast. It can be disorienting to jump right into this dark and twisted tale, but things do fall into place. Thankfully, the time spent detailing the main characters really makes them stand out and stay with you for a while.
I don’t know that I can get into the plot without giving too much away, so I’ll say that the story keeps you interested right up until the end. It’s a long book, almost 500 pages, but it never feels weighed down. You will definitely not be bored. It’s more like being strapped into a haunted ride at a demonic carnival and constantly being shocked at the things you see. Word of warning, this book is extremely graphic. Torture, brutal murder – you name it, it’s in here. If this would be disturbing, this book probably isn’t for you. Otherwise, enjoy the ride!
Please note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2020
What I Did Like:
-Good use of length. A lot of times when a book is pushing 500 pages you’ll hear reviewers (me included) mention entire scenes could have been cut to trim this down a few hundred pages. Ghost River does NOT have that problem. I didn’t find scenes that were unnecessary. Everything added to the plot, everything added to the bigger picture.
-Made up religions can be fun. Of course, their not for everyone, but I enjoy them. I enjoy the way authors play around with the power in these kinds of stories and what would cause the “Gods” to step back in. This story does a great job of giving us the history of this completely made up (and messed up) religion and their set of “rules”.
-Esther. There are a lot of characters in this one but Esther stood out for me. She’s hard edged and bordering on dangerous, but she’s also a mother who just wants what is right for her family at the end of the day. She’s pretty amazing and I found myself focusing more on her storylines than anyone else's.
Who Should Read This One:
-You have to like dark reading. Nothing about this one is light and fun. You’re digging into some serious monsters and violence, so buckle up.
-You have to like books that make you THINK. You’ll be looking for connections and keeping track of characters right from page 1. Enjoy!
-This one sort of gave me Night Vale vibes with it’s dark tone, fans of that series should give this one a chance!
My Rating: 3 Stars. Not everyone is going to love this one, but if you’re in that niche this may be a new favorite.
For Full Review (including what I didn’t love): https://youtu.be/voknigsSdIQ
-Good use of length. A lot of times when a book is pushing 500 pages you’ll hear reviewers (me included) mention entire scenes could have been cut to trim this down a few hundred pages. Ghost River does NOT have that problem. I didn’t find scenes that were unnecessary. Everything added to the plot, everything added to the bigger picture.
-Made up religions can be fun. Of course, their not for everyone, but I enjoy them. I enjoy the way authors play around with the power in these kinds of stories and what would cause the “Gods” to step back in. This story does a great job of giving us the history of this completely made up (and messed up) religion and their set of “rules”.
-Esther. There are a lot of characters in this one but Esther stood out for me. She’s hard edged and bordering on dangerous, but she’s also a mother who just wants what is right for her family at the end of the day. She’s pretty amazing and I found myself focusing more on her storylines than anyone else's.
Who Should Read This One:
-You have to like dark reading. Nothing about this one is light and fun. You’re digging into some serious monsters and violence, so buckle up.
-You have to like books that make you THINK. You’ll be looking for connections and keeping track of characters right from page 1. Enjoy!
-This one sort of gave me Night Vale vibes with it’s dark tone, fans of that series should give this one a chance!
My Rating: 3 Stars. Not everyone is going to love this one, but if you’re in that niche this may be a new favorite.
For Full Review (including what I didn’t love): https://youtu.be/voknigsSdIQ
February 14, 2021
I struggled in the beginning with keeping characters straight, there were a lot introduced at once and the names were not traditional at all. It sorted itself out, and beyond that, what a fantastic debut! This is not my go to genre, but I found myself sucked in and compelled to find out what fresh horror waited on the next page.
I recommend wholeheartedly. I don't default to 5-Star Reviews, but in this case, for such a great debut, it is well deserving. Great job Chad, you're gonna be the guy that pulls me into reading horror on a regular basis and I can't wait for your next.
I recommend wholeheartedly. I don't default to 5-Star Reviews, but in this case, for such a great debut, it is well deserving. Great job Chad, you're gonna be the guy that pulls me into reading horror on a regular basis and I can't wait for your next.
December 27, 2020
I’ve never read anything like Ghost River. Chad Ryan definitely blew me away with his debut novel. It’s a must read for horror lovers.
November 8, 2020
When I was sent an advanced reading copy of this novel by the author, I was warned it was intense. After finishing it, I can only agree wholeheartedly with that description. This (very) adult horror novel starts off from page one with action and every kind of violence you can imagine, from physical and emotional to sexual, wrapped up in an outrageously imaginative plot and world building. The author leaps into the story with no context which I found disorienting until I got a few chapters in and began to understand what was happening, at least to some extent. There are larger mysteries at the center of everything that are only gradually revealed toward the middle and end of the book, but I’m not someone who likes to wade through tons of exposition before we get into the plot, so I appreciated this approach of not leading the reader by the hand through every twist and turn.
There is a very Stephen King The Stand vibe to this tale as we follow a host of characters through their own journeys and a picture is slowly painted of how all the puzzle pieces are going to fit together. The beating heart of the story for me were the characters of Esther and Minister, the beleaguered couple at the center of much of the action in one way or another, as they are caught up in a wild spiritual, religious, political, and even metaphysical conspiracy that would be impossible for me to succinctly describe here. These two are the most human, literally and metaphorically, of the characters we encounter and therefore I found it easiest to relate to their suffering.
And there is a lot of suffering in this book. Not a light read in any sense of the word either in subject matter or length. It is extremely disturbing to witness the violent misogyny of the villains of the story but the emergence of strong female characters who ultimately retake the power that has been stripped from them and exact revenge is satisfying. Also, for my tastes as a reader, the book seems a bit too long. As the violence and grotesqueries pile up, it had the effect of numbing me to any shock value in a way that found me skimming quickly through some sections that go on at length about the atrocities that are happening in order to get to the (to me) more interesting character and plot development sections. However, I must admit that this kind of in-your-face horror is not a genre I read a lot of, so the level of sadism and bloodshed being described may very well be par for the course for what hardcore horror fans will expect.
The thing I enjoyed most about the book was its success in building a world where seemingly fantastical creatures and events could believably exist alongside the mundane modern world we live in. There is a vivid imagination at work here with effective and descriptive prose that evokes a visceral and sensual picture in the mind of the reader. The level of creativity and originality on display is undeniable and there is no doubt the author is a skilled and confident writer. I think fans of King and other pure horror masters will find this ambitious book to be both as thought-provoking and unforgettable as I did.
(Reviewer’s note: I was provided with a free advanced reading copy of this novel by the author prior to publication in exchange for my honest opinion.)
There is a very Stephen King The Stand vibe to this tale as we follow a host of characters through their own journeys and a picture is slowly painted of how all the puzzle pieces are going to fit together. The beating heart of the story for me were the characters of Esther and Minister, the beleaguered couple at the center of much of the action in one way or another, as they are caught up in a wild spiritual, religious, political, and even metaphysical conspiracy that would be impossible for me to succinctly describe here. These two are the most human, literally and metaphorically, of the characters we encounter and therefore I found it easiest to relate to their suffering.
And there is a lot of suffering in this book. Not a light read in any sense of the word either in subject matter or length. It is extremely disturbing to witness the violent misogyny of the villains of the story but the emergence of strong female characters who ultimately retake the power that has been stripped from them and exact revenge is satisfying. Also, for my tastes as a reader, the book seems a bit too long. As the violence and grotesqueries pile up, it had the effect of numbing me to any shock value in a way that found me skimming quickly through some sections that go on at length about the atrocities that are happening in order to get to the (to me) more interesting character and plot development sections. However, I must admit that this kind of in-your-face horror is not a genre I read a lot of, so the level of sadism and bloodshed being described may very well be par for the course for what hardcore horror fans will expect.
The thing I enjoyed most about the book was its success in building a world where seemingly fantastical creatures and events could believably exist alongside the mundane modern world we live in. There is a vivid imagination at work here with effective and descriptive prose that evokes a visceral and sensual picture in the mind of the reader. The level of creativity and originality on display is undeniable and there is no doubt the author is a skilled and confident writer. I think fans of King and other pure horror masters will find this ambitious book to be both as thought-provoking and unforgettable as I did.
(Reviewer’s note: I was provided with a free advanced reading copy of this novel by the author prior to publication in exchange for my honest opinion.)
February 19, 2021
To start with, I’m not a horror guy. Not that I want to hate on a genre, but it was never one that really grabbed me. I’m by no means an authority on it. I’ve read some King, Barker, and a few others who’re the tentpoles of the form, enough to have a very general idea of the flavor of the genre. A flavor that doesn’t really appeal to me. And that’s why this book really shocked me.
To start with Ryan is a true wordsmith, a craftsman with an eye for detail. He constructed an amazing and authentic setting that feels as real and time-chewed as the little desert communities I‘ve visited in my travels. Ghost River felt as tangible as any one of those sun-bleached fence posts by the side of the 14 outside of Zyzzyx. And the characters fit in perfectly too. Too often people thought of as “simple folk” are relegated to stereotypes or human set dressing in novels. But here they are brought front and center. They’re lives and travails given a kind of importance and majesty that I haven’t seen sense McCarthy’s No Country. Simple doesn’t mean meaningless, and Ryan knows it.
And while I loved the setting and characters, the part that struck me most was the part that normally turns me off to this genre; the description of horror itself. Painting a picture with words is no small task. Too many descriptors and you have a book full of words like “oozing” or “festering.” Too few and you have pointless arguments like, “What does Grendel look like?” Neither of which is any fun to deal with. But Ryan does something different. He describes things of real horror with a kind of fascinated eye. It’s like watching a gore fest of a movie and being draw in by the by the loving attention to detail. You can tell that the demented mind of the makeup artist or creature designer was focus ferociously on what this creature was fundamentally about. Ryan does this too. His love of the grotesque shows in the care he uses to describe it. And his fascination is infectious.
To be clear, this book is a nightmare on paper; not for the faint of heart or timid of spirit. But if you want to read something that would be a cult movie classic in the midnight movie scene, this is it. This is the kind of book that would inspire t-shirt art for the hardest of metalheads.
To start with Ryan is a true wordsmith, a craftsman with an eye for detail. He constructed an amazing and authentic setting that feels as real and time-chewed as the little desert communities I‘ve visited in my travels. Ghost River felt as tangible as any one of those sun-bleached fence posts by the side of the 14 outside of Zyzzyx. And the characters fit in perfectly too. Too often people thought of as “simple folk” are relegated to stereotypes or human set dressing in novels. But here they are brought front and center. They’re lives and travails given a kind of importance and majesty that I haven’t seen sense McCarthy’s No Country. Simple doesn’t mean meaningless, and Ryan knows it.
And while I loved the setting and characters, the part that struck me most was the part that normally turns me off to this genre; the description of horror itself. Painting a picture with words is no small task. Too many descriptors and you have a book full of words like “oozing” or “festering.” Too few and you have pointless arguments like, “What does Grendel look like?” Neither of which is any fun to deal with. But Ryan does something different. He describes things of real horror with a kind of fascinated eye. It’s like watching a gore fest of a movie and being draw in by the by the loving attention to detail. You can tell that the demented mind of the makeup artist or creature designer was focus ferociously on what this creature was fundamentally about. Ryan does this too. His love of the grotesque shows in the care he uses to describe it. And his fascination is infectious.
To be clear, this book is a nightmare on paper; not for the faint of heart or timid of spirit. But if you want to read something that would be a cult movie classic in the midnight movie scene, this is it. This is the kind of book that would inspire t-shirt art for the hardest of metalheads.
December 24, 2020
An excellent story! EXCELLENT!
This book is not for the faint of heart, but it will definitely grab your heart. From the first words, it held my senses hostage, and I was immersed in the burning desert, the gut-churning river, and surrounded by humans and monsters of varying degrees. This is horror at its best, with a delicious flair for prose that made me cringe, and cry at times. There are some humorous moments in the story as well. At no time was I bored reading this. Ryan had me equally disgusted and empathetic with this book. In all of the darkess, death, and wonderfully raw scenes throughout, Ryan delivers much beauty. This story is as much about life as it is about death. Hurt and healing, hatred and love are skillfully depicted in the book, reminding the reader that they are not so clearly defined as we may think they are. As I read, I was often gobsmacked by Ryan's imagination, and talent, repeatedly thinking that this is book-to-film material. Hands down one of the best books I've read this year. 484 pages, and I want more! Sings, "Take me to the river...drop me in the water..."
This book is not for the faint of heart, but it will definitely grab your heart. From the first words, it held my senses hostage, and I was immersed in the burning desert, the gut-churning river, and surrounded by humans and monsters of varying degrees. This is horror at its best, with a delicious flair for prose that made me cringe, and cry at times. There are some humorous moments in the story as well. At no time was I bored reading this. Ryan had me equally disgusted and empathetic with this book. In all of the darkess, death, and wonderfully raw scenes throughout, Ryan delivers much beauty. This story is as much about life as it is about death. Hurt and healing, hatred and love are skillfully depicted in the book, reminding the reader that they are not so clearly defined as we may think they are. As I read, I was often gobsmacked by Ryan's imagination, and talent, repeatedly thinking that this is book-to-film material. Hands down one of the best books I've read this year. 484 pages, and I want more! Sings, "Take me to the river...drop me in the water..."
April 15, 2021
“Dreaming is fucking dangerous. So is never dreaming at all.”
I’ve seen other reviewers compare this book to other authors. To me, it has no comparison. I found Ghost River to be one of the most imaginative, unique, and bat-shit crazy fucking books I’ve ever read. Yeah, it was disgusting at times, filled with heinous, vile imagery, debauchery, and all around fucked-up mayhem, but some wild, poignant, and beautiful truths were woven inside the unexpected packaging.
I will say, that the first 100 pages or so I poured through confused as shit, not following the expansive cast of characters constantly referred to by multiple names, the jumping timelines, and the all around disorienting nature of the fantasy. Still, my twisted and morbid fascination carried me through quickly, and I was glad it did.
This book was a wild ride, a nightmare choked full of complex characters who teem with life in a grim, death-filled reality. I could see this book interpreted as an unreal graphic novel, or a CGI-filled epic of ghastly cinema. The imagery is haunting. And this is a book that I know will stay with me for a while.
Read it, but be warned, its not for the faint of heart.
I’ve seen other reviewers compare this book to other authors. To me, it has no comparison. I found Ghost River to be one of the most imaginative, unique, and bat-shit crazy fucking books I’ve ever read. Yeah, it was disgusting at times, filled with heinous, vile imagery, debauchery, and all around fucked-up mayhem, but some wild, poignant, and beautiful truths were woven inside the unexpected packaging.
I will say, that the first 100 pages or so I poured through confused as shit, not following the expansive cast of characters constantly referred to by multiple names, the jumping timelines, and the all around disorienting nature of the fantasy. Still, my twisted and morbid fascination carried me through quickly, and I was glad it did.
This book was a wild ride, a nightmare choked full of complex characters who teem with life in a grim, death-filled reality. I could see this book interpreted as an unreal graphic novel, or a CGI-filled epic of ghastly cinema. The imagery is haunting. And this is a book that I know will stay with me for a while.
Read it, but be warned, its not for the faint of heart.
August 25, 2022
Revolutionary and avant-garde, Ghost River is unlike any other horror story I’ve read before.
This is an engrossing tale that weaves together a macabre world and cast of characters that pushed the boundaries of my imagination. Ghost River is a shift from the traditional and expected, and I loved how under-prepared I was, going in. It was brutal and terrifying, but there were tender moments of beauty and depth too. The author crafted the world and people with such authenticity; it made me think of urban legends and lore because it has such an established, realistic feel to it.
As the story evolves, it becomes more gruesome and at times uncomfortable, but it’s buffered by Ryan’s skilful prose and captivating narrative. As disturbing as the scenes are, you find yourself wanting more.
Orphan Rock isn’t somewhere I would choose to visit, but with such immersive and brilliant storytelling, I can’t help but feel like I’ve been.
Ghost River is a spectacular debut by Chad Ryan, one I hope you’ll have the guts to read.
Samantha SL
This is an engrossing tale that weaves together a macabre world and cast of characters that pushed the boundaries of my imagination. Ghost River is a shift from the traditional and expected, and I loved how under-prepared I was, going in. It was brutal and terrifying, but there were tender moments of beauty and depth too. The author crafted the world and people with such authenticity; it made me think of urban legends and lore because it has such an established, realistic feel to it.
As the story evolves, it becomes more gruesome and at times uncomfortable, but it’s buffered by Ryan’s skilful prose and captivating narrative. As disturbing as the scenes are, you find yourself wanting more.
Orphan Rock isn’t somewhere I would choose to visit, but with such immersive and brilliant storytelling, I can’t help but feel like I’ve been.
Ghost River is a spectacular debut by Chad Ryan, one I hope you’ll have the guts to read.
Samantha SL
March 16, 2023
Thinking outside the box!
This was one of the strangest books I’ve listened to in a very long time. At first it was difficult to follow but once I got past the “creepy” factor it got easier to understand.
This was to me, basically hell on earth. This book has more alive dead things/creatures than the latest zombie movie lol. That said, it was intriguing and somewhat thought provoking as I feel like there were metaphors everywhere 😂 🤷🏻♀️ but maybe it’s just me.
With the multiple POV’s, timelines and locations, it was a bit confusing but I’m glad I finished it. I even found myself rooting for a couple of the characters even though there was basically only 1 good character, depending on how you perceive it. This book contains many subjects that may be a trigger or just unappealing to some, but not me.
The narration was absolutely fantastic!! So many characters, creatures and sounds, Andrew Gibson really brought them to life. Pun intended 😂
This was my first book by this author.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
This was one of the strangest books I’ve listened to in a very long time. At first it was difficult to follow but once I got past the “creepy” factor it got easier to understand.
This was to me, basically hell on earth. This book has more alive dead things/creatures than the latest zombie movie lol. That said, it was intriguing and somewhat thought provoking as I feel like there were metaphors everywhere 😂 🤷🏻♀️ but maybe it’s just me.
With the multiple POV’s, timelines and locations, it was a bit confusing but I’m glad I finished it. I even found myself rooting for a couple of the characters even though there was basically only 1 good character, depending on how you perceive it. This book contains many subjects that may be a trigger or just unappealing to some, but not me.
The narration was absolutely fantastic!! So many characters, creatures and sounds, Andrew Gibson really brought them to life. Pun intended 😂
This was my first book by this author.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
August 8, 2021
Move over Clive Barker
What can I say about Ghost River? The author will tell you the story comes at you like a broken bottle, and he's not wrong. The horror elements of this book are on the level with Clive Barker. Broken Kids with unique aspects and creepy names, old desert demons fighting for supremacy, and the trauma of those caught between them. But there's so much more. Ghost River examines, unapologetically, what it is to be human; the good, bad, and ugly. It doesn't stop to ask who is worthy of redemption, instead offering it to anyone who would ask. And it tells us that sometimes, no matter how monstrous we become, innocence may be our best defense. Heed the content warnings provided by the author, but if you're in a place where you can handle this books intensity you'll find a thing of true, scarred beauty beneath.
What can I say about Ghost River? The author will tell you the story comes at you like a broken bottle, and he's not wrong. The horror elements of this book are on the level with Clive Barker. Broken Kids with unique aspects and creepy names, old desert demons fighting for supremacy, and the trauma of those caught between them. But there's so much more. Ghost River examines, unapologetically, what it is to be human; the good, bad, and ugly. It doesn't stop to ask who is worthy of redemption, instead offering it to anyone who would ask. And it tells us that sometimes, no matter how monstrous we become, innocence may be our best defense. Heed the content warnings provided by the author, but if you're in a place where you can handle this books intensity you'll find a thing of true, scarred beauty beneath.
January 16, 2021
For those that go into Ghost River unsuspecting, know that it is not for the faint of heart. Mr. Ryan drops you deep into an established world, and he is not there to spoonfeed you details about how the pieces fit together.
Rather, like some of the characters, he plans on shoving you full of the dirt of the land. He is confident in his prose and knows the story that he wants to tell. I found a lot of his characters to be deeply complex and yet, they frightened me.
They frightened me for a number of reasons - the first of which how relatable some of the characters can be despite their horrific actions or appearances.
I highly recommend the book for those that are willing to submit to horror at its basest form.
Rather, like some of the characters, he plans on shoving you full of the dirt of the land. He is confident in his prose and knows the story that he wants to tell. I found a lot of his characters to be deeply complex and yet, they frightened me.
They frightened me for a number of reasons - the first of which how relatable some of the characters can be despite their horrific actions or appearances.
I highly recommend the book for those that are willing to submit to horror at its basest form.
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