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A Savage Breed
A ruthless band of outlaws makes good their escape from execution. A mountain man seeks justice following the grisly murders of his wife and daughter. A sharp-tongued teenager flees her newly widowed mother in search of adventure.
Amongst the eerie peaks and crevices of the Wichita Mountains, this assembly of pariahs converge. But it isn't just each other they need be concerned about, because there's more than frigid winds in the skies over Indian Country.
Sixth in the Splatter Western series from Death's Head Press. (All Splatter Western books are stand-alone stories. Read them in whatever order you please!)
Amongst the eerie peaks and crevices of the Wichita Mountains, this assembly of pariahs converge. But it isn't just each other they need be concerned about, because there's more than frigid winds in the skies over Indian Country.
Sixth in the Splatter Western series from Death's Head Press. (All Splatter Western books are stand-alone stories. Read them in whatever order you please!)
190 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2020
13 people are currently reading
492 people want to read
About the author
Patrick C. Harrison III
45 books813 followersPatrick C. Harrison III (PC3, if you prefer) is an author of horror, splatterpunk, and all forms of speculative fiction. His current publications include GRANDPAPPY, A SAVAGE BREED, VAMPIRE NUNS BEHIND BARS, 5 TALES THAT WILL LAND YOU IN HELL, among others, and his works can be found in numerous anthologies, including AND HELL FOLLOWED and ROAD KILL: TEXAS HORROR BY TEXAS AUTHORS VOL. 4.
PC3 is the Splatterpunk Award-winning editor (with Jarod Barbee) of AND HELL FOLLOWED, and has edited several other anthologies. He is a freelance editor, having done work for notable authors like Aron Beauregard, Daniel J. Volpe, Mark Towse, Rebecca Rowland, and many others.
PC3 also has a FREE substack, in which he frequently does movie reviews and updates readers on his fiction. Check out pc3horror.substack.com.
PC3 is the Splatterpunk Award-winning editor (with Jarod Barbee) of AND HELL FOLLOWED, and has edited several other anthologies. He is a freelance editor, having done work for notable authors like Aron Beauregard, Daniel J. Volpe, Mark Towse, Rebecca Rowland, and many others.
PC3 also has a FREE substack, in which he frequently does movie reviews and updates readers on his fiction. Check out pc3horror.substack.com.
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December 14, 2020A SAVAGE BREED by Patrick C. Harrison III is Book 6 in the Splatter Western series by Death's Head Press. The rest of the series looks like this:
THE MAGPIE COFFIN by Wile E. Young (5 stars- a favorite book in 2020)
HUNGER ON THE CHISHOLM TRAIL by M. Ennenbach (3.5 stars)
DUST by Chris Miller (3.5 Stars)
THE NIGHT SILVER RIVER RUN RED by Christine Morgan (4.5 stars)
STARVING ZOE by C. Derick Miller (DNF)
And now, A SAVAGE BREED (DNF)
You know you're reading a Western when the book starts off with a hangin' and standard racism against Native Americans. The outlaws in this tale escape their execution and go on the run.
The breakneck pace of the storytelling doesn't lend itself to ample character-development, but the characters *do* begin to grow on you as the action permeates one scene after the next.
A young woman is introduced, Elizabeth Hughes, and immediately she's described with "budding breasts". *cringe* but I couldn't help liking her story as she storms out of the family homestead after her father's death and says, "Goodbye, Mama, you old hag." I was looking forward to reading more of her journey.
Then Part II came, The Tate Brothers, and Jezzus. You have women tied up, the senseless killing of a horse and I was *this close* to tapping out, just like I did with the previous book, STARVING ZOE (women, including female babies, are called cunts. No thanks) but I found myself continuing.
Chapter 4 introduces Father Ronald Milton and the rape of a Native American woman and that did it. I set the book down.
Here's the thing: I think we are fully capable of writing authentic Western tales with a nuanced view of racism. Just because that was the prevailing attitude of people from the past, doesn't mean that today, writers can't elevate the genre by portraying characters from that time that maybe weren't racist. I am also tired of men writing rape scenes for their female characters to endure.
This book also had some casual fat shaming.
*sigh*
Harrison is talented because even though I was struggling, the author's storytelling voice kept luring me back in and I really wanted to know what was going to happen, but I just couldn't.
I really love the idea of these Splatter Westerns and I don't want authors to skimp on the extreme horror but I know for a fact there are ways to execute on this genre without leaning so heavily on racism and rape. This has always been true but it's even more important RIGHT NOW with Sports Teams even changing their names in an effort to stamp out systemic racism. We don't need to "change or erase" history but we can write our fiction to align with our 2020 vision for equality.
Thank you to Death's Head Press for hooking the Night Worms Team up with digital and physical copies of this series for our honest reviews & Night Worms Book Parties
THE MAGPIE COFFIN by Wile E. Young (5 stars- a favorite book in 2020)
HUNGER ON THE CHISHOLM TRAIL by M. Ennenbach (3.5 stars)
DUST by Chris Miller (3.5 Stars)
THE NIGHT SILVER RIVER RUN RED by Christine Morgan (4.5 stars)
STARVING ZOE by C. Derick Miller (DNF)
And now, A SAVAGE BREED (DNF)
You know you're reading a Western when the book starts off with a hangin' and standard racism against Native Americans. The outlaws in this tale escape their execution and go on the run.
The breakneck pace of the storytelling doesn't lend itself to ample character-development, but the characters *do* begin to grow on you as the action permeates one scene after the next.
A young woman is introduced, Elizabeth Hughes, and immediately she's described with "budding breasts". *cringe* but I couldn't help liking her story as she storms out of the family homestead after her father's death and says, "Goodbye, Mama, you old hag." I was looking forward to reading more of her journey.
Then Part II came, The Tate Brothers, and Jezzus. You have women tied up, the senseless killing of a horse and I was *this close* to tapping out, just like I did with the previous book, STARVING ZOE (women, including female babies, are called cunts. No thanks) but I found myself continuing.
Chapter 4 introduces Father Ronald Milton and the rape of a Native American woman and that did it. I set the book down.
Here's the thing: I think we are fully capable of writing authentic Western tales with a nuanced view of racism. Just because that was the prevailing attitude of people from the past, doesn't mean that today, writers can't elevate the genre by portraying characters from that time that maybe weren't racist. I am also tired of men writing rape scenes for their female characters to endure.
This book also had some casual fat shaming.
*sigh*
Harrison is talented because even though I was struggling, the author's storytelling voice kept luring me back in and I really wanted to know what was going to happen, but I just couldn't.
I really love the idea of these Splatter Westerns and I don't want authors to skimp on the extreme horror but I know for a fact there are ways to execute on this genre without leaning so heavily on racism and rape. This has always been true but it's even more important RIGHT NOW with Sports Teams even changing their names in an effort to stamp out systemic racism. We don't need to "change or erase" history but we can write our fiction to align with our 2020 vision for equality.
Thank you to Death's Head Press for hooking the Night Worms Team up with digital and physical copies of this series for our honest reviews & Night Worms Book Parties
April 17, 2021
Another great entry in the Splatter Western series!
A Savage Breed, Book Six in the increasingly popular Splatter Western line from Deaths Head Press, has everything that fans have come to expect from the series. If you are expecting a fun, gory ride with bigger than life characters and even bigger monsters, with some hard fighting and fast shooting thrown in for good measure, this one will not disappoint.
Telling three different tales that intertwine at the book’s big finale, we are introduced to;
• The Tate Gang – A ruthless group of outlaws who have narrowly escaped execution by murdering their captors and fleeing for their lives. Their reprieve may be short-lived as there is something far more dangerous than the law waiting out there on the plains for them
• James Haggard – After returning home to find his beloved wife and daughter brutally murdered, he vows to take vengeance on those he believes responsible. The west is a dangerous place however and the real question becomes whether he will live long enough to serve the justice he so desperately seeks
• Liz Sawyer – A fast-talking and fast shooting young woman no longer content with her dull life at home. The untimely death of her father gives her the excuse she craved to move on, toward a new life further afield. The journey may provide more excitement than she bargained for, and reaching her destination may no longer be on the cards.
Reviewing the Splatter Westerns, it is all too tempting to compare them to other books in the series and, considering the ridiculously high standard set by books like ‘The Magpie Coffin’ and ‘The Thirteenth Koyote’, it is not a necessarily fair comparison. ‘A Savage Breed’ may not quite reach the lofty heights of the best the Splatter Westerns have to offer, but it is a thoroughly entertaining ride that is firing on all cylinders where it counts.
You can’t talk about ‘A Savage Breed’ without talking about Liz. There have been a lot of memorable characters in the series to date, but Liz may be the best of them. Never short of a pithy putdown or killer one-liner, she is brave, bold, boisterous and more than capable of taking care of herself when things get bloody. Any time spent with her throughout the book was an absolute joy and while the other characters are strong enough to carry a story, Liz is an absolute show-stealer.
The book's antagonist is a particularly strong one too. I won’t spoil it here, as the book does an admirable job of keeping the surprise until well into the midway point, but they worked very effectively, being simultaneously scary, whilst also capable of delivering on the promise of Splatter that’s right there on the cover.
I honestly enjoyed everything about this book. The characters, the setting, the creatures, the splatter, all works spectacularly and combines everything at the end for a satisfying and big scale conclusion and while it may not quite reach the dizzying highs of the best of the Splatter Westerns, it doesn’t take a step wrong in delivering a fun and action-packed entry to the series.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/horror-li...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter and Instagram - @RickReadsHorror
A Savage Breed, Book Six in the increasingly popular Splatter Western line from Deaths Head Press, has everything that fans have come to expect from the series. If you are expecting a fun, gory ride with bigger than life characters and even bigger monsters, with some hard fighting and fast shooting thrown in for good measure, this one will not disappoint.
Telling three different tales that intertwine at the book’s big finale, we are introduced to;
• The Tate Gang – A ruthless group of outlaws who have narrowly escaped execution by murdering their captors and fleeing for their lives. Their reprieve may be short-lived as there is something far more dangerous than the law waiting out there on the plains for them
• James Haggard – After returning home to find his beloved wife and daughter brutally murdered, he vows to take vengeance on those he believes responsible. The west is a dangerous place however and the real question becomes whether he will live long enough to serve the justice he so desperately seeks
• Liz Sawyer – A fast-talking and fast shooting young woman no longer content with her dull life at home. The untimely death of her father gives her the excuse she craved to move on, toward a new life further afield. The journey may provide more excitement than she bargained for, and reaching her destination may no longer be on the cards.
Reviewing the Splatter Westerns, it is all too tempting to compare them to other books in the series and, considering the ridiculously high standard set by books like ‘The Magpie Coffin’ and ‘The Thirteenth Koyote’, it is not a necessarily fair comparison. ‘A Savage Breed’ may not quite reach the lofty heights of the best the Splatter Westerns have to offer, but it is a thoroughly entertaining ride that is firing on all cylinders where it counts.
You can’t talk about ‘A Savage Breed’ without talking about Liz. There have been a lot of memorable characters in the series to date, but Liz may be the best of them. Never short of a pithy putdown or killer one-liner, she is brave, bold, boisterous and more than capable of taking care of herself when things get bloody. Any time spent with her throughout the book was an absolute joy and while the other characters are strong enough to carry a story, Liz is an absolute show-stealer.
The book's antagonist is a particularly strong one too. I won’t spoil it here, as the book does an admirable job of keeping the surprise until well into the midway point, but they worked very effectively, being simultaneously scary, whilst also capable of delivering on the promise of Splatter that’s right there on the cover.
I honestly enjoyed everything about this book. The characters, the setting, the creatures, the splatter, all works spectacularly and combines everything at the end for a satisfying and big scale conclusion and while it may not quite reach the dizzying highs of the best of the Splatter Westerns, it doesn’t take a step wrong in delivering a fun and action-packed entry to the series.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/horror-li...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter and Instagram - @RickReadsHorror
December 17, 2020
First of all, thank you so much to Death’s Head Press for gifting me copies of this splatter western series. The covers are all so eye-catching, and the stories are a rip-roaring, gun-toting, bloody, wild ride!
A SAVAGE BREED by Patrick C. Harrison III entertained me from start to finish, but had major flaws. And when I say flaws, it depends on the person. I know my followers are not all hardcore horror readers, so I feel obligated to mention a few things. It’s a splatter western, right? So for me, it’s bring on the gore, which it delivered smashingly. The flaw is its over-the-top raunchy tasteless scenes. Overall, a story with a great premise and a spicy teenager with a sharp tongue is good in my book. However, there is rape, incest, racial slurs, and general grossness, so be forewarned (it’s an old-time western, but it can be hard to read).
Here’s what it’s about:
We follow three storylines that take place up in the Wichita Mountains. The first is about a group of outlaws, known as the Tate Gang, who escape execution. The second is a man seeking vengeance for the murders of his family, and the last is a teenage girl who leaves her mother looking for trouble. Sounds fun, right? Well, it’s a blast! Except...
My problem lies with the first half of the story. There are too many things that are not close to necessary to move the story along. I don’t generally get offended, but I thought I’d throw that out there. I loved the last part of the book and the way the storylines all came together. I also enjoyed what little we saw of the flying creatures (hint, hint - wanted more of that) and the ending was good.
I’d have a hard time recommending this one, but I did enjoy reading it in the end. My final thought on this installment is the bad outweighed the good. I am super EXCITED for the next in the series! It’s a catawampus, hogtying, yee-hawing
Special thanks to the Night Worms for my copy.
A SAVAGE BREED by Patrick C. Harrison III entertained me from start to finish, but had major flaws. And when I say flaws, it depends on the person. I know my followers are not all hardcore horror readers, so I feel obligated to mention a few things. It’s a splatter western, right? So for me, it’s bring on the gore, which it delivered smashingly. The flaw is its over-the-top raunchy tasteless scenes. Overall, a story with a great premise and a spicy teenager with a sharp tongue is good in my book. However, there is rape, incest, racial slurs, and general grossness, so be forewarned (it’s an old-time western, but it can be hard to read).
Here’s what it’s about:
We follow three storylines that take place up in the Wichita Mountains. The first is about a group of outlaws, known as the Tate Gang, who escape execution. The second is a man seeking vengeance for the murders of his family, and the last is a teenage girl who leaves her mother looking for trouble. Sounds fun, right? Well, it’s a blast! Except...
My problem lies with the first half of the story. There are too many things that are not close to necessary to move the story along. I don’t generally get offended, but I thought I’d throw that out there. I loved the last part of the book and the way the storylines all came together. I also enjoyed what little we saw of the flying creatures (hint, hint - wanted more of that) and the ending was good.
I’d have a hard time recommending this one, but I did enjoy reading it in the end. My final thought on this installment is the bad outweighed the good. I am super EXCITED for the next in the series! It’s a catawampus, hogtying, yee-hawing
Special thanks to the Night Worms for my copy.
December 13, 2020
Despicable bandits, a fiery teenage girl on the run to California, a mountain man who seeks murderous vengeance for the death of his family. What do all these characters have in common? They’re all prey for the unknown flying monsters that rule the night skies.
The premise for this sounded very appealing and I was hoping to love this 6th addition to the Splatter Western series as much as the 4th book (Christine Morgan’s “The Night Silver River Run Red”). Unfortunately, I was disappointed and upset with this one. Why? Well here’s a list:
— racial violence/ slurs
— unnecessary rape scenes that added nothing to the plot
— lack of development / perspective from Native American characters
— 90% of the book containing more of what’s listed above than the monsters we’re waiting to see revealed.
Yes, content like this can be found in many works of dark fiction. I know: this is a Splatter Western. Half the point is gore and the macabre, but the difference between good and bad, successful and unsuccessful versions of this genre is a commitment to responsibility and accountability—imagining a genre that can do better than being a safe space for our worst selves—that needs to be had when handling violence as entertainment. During a particularly painful year where the very real pain and suffering of BIPOC is being brought to light, I need white male authors to do better. Writing stories where the premise happened “long ago” should not give white authors the license to barrage readers with sexual assault, brutalization, and the constant use of derogatory, racial slurs. We’re still here, it still hurts.
These are details that I found hard to ignore or skim over and I cannot in good conscience recommend a book that could be triggering for certain audiences. Aside from the story having a very unexpected twist ending, A SAVAGE BREED simply dropped the ball for me. I’ll hold my breath for the next book in the series. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
(Special thanks to Night Worms and Deaths Head Press for this #NightWormsBookParty review copy.)
The premise for this sounded very appealing and I was hoping to love this 6th addition to the Splatter Western series as much as the 4th book (Christine Morgan’s “The Night Silver River Run Red”). Unfortunately, I was disappointed and upset with this one. Why? Well here’s a list:
— racial violence/ slurs
— unnecessary rape scenes that added nothing to the plot
— lack of development / perspective from Native American characters
— 90% of the book containing more of what’s listed above than the monsters we’re waiting to see revealed.
Yes, content like this can be found in many works of dark fiction. I know: this is a Splatter Western. Half the point is gore and the macabre, but the difference between good and bad, successful and unsuccessful versions of this genre is a commitment to responsibility and accountability—imagining a genre that can do better than being a safe space for our worst selves—that needs to be had when handling violence as entertainment. During a particularly painful year where the very real pain and suffering of BIPOC is being brought to light, I need white male authors to do better. Writing stories where the premise happened “long ago” should not give white authors the license to barrage readers with sexual assault, brutalization, and the constant use of derogatory, racial slurs. We’re still here, it still hurts.
These are details that I found hard to ignore or skim over and I cannot in good conscience recommend a book that could be triggering for certain audiences. Aside from the story having a very unexpected twist ending, A SAVAGE BREED simply dropped the ball for me. I’ll hold my breath for the next book in the series. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
(Special thanks to Night Worms and Deaths Head Press for this #NightWormsBookParty review copy.)
December 17, 2020
This was an engaging read. Colorful characters and a solid, solid story. Harrison has a really smooth style to his writing; never misses a beat. I highly recommend this.
November 28, 2020
Have you been reading the splatter western series from Death's Head Press? If not, you absolutely need to be. A Savage Breed is the sixth installment in the series and I could not put it down. Literally, I read it in one sitting.
Three story lines collide taking place in the Wichita Mountains. The Tate Gang, a band of outlaws that always manages to elude the law, James Haggard, a mountain man seeking vengence for the murder of his wife and daughter and Elizabeth Hughes, a smart ass teenage girl that leaves home in hopes of finding greater adventures on her solo trek to California. What these characters do not know, is that there are many accounts among various Indian tribes in the region of winged creatures that plague the mountains and prairies at night. As these characters begin to cross paths, we watch as they are all willing to work together, kind of, in order to survive a night with these vicious legends.
This story is fun as hell. Gory violence, a crooked ass priest and creatures that you would not be able to imagine yourself. However, there is one character that really stood out to me and really made this story what it was. That would be miss Elizabeth Hughes, our young heroine (?) For a large part of the book, Elizabeth is by herself with her horse and her dialogue could not be any more entertaining. This character has absolutely no filter and, while she seems mildly unhinged, there were several parts that I could not keep myself from laughing out loud.
While Elizabeth really stole the show for me, there was one part that really kept me from giving it a full five stars. When we finally get to meet the creatures in this story, more than a fly by that is, they were described completely different than what I had been imagining the whole book. While this doesn't necessarily surprise me, it was rather disappointing. I kept thinking that these things were clearly some prehistoric anomaly of nature yet, that was not really the description we get. I will leave you with that, as I highly recommend you check out this installment and really, this entire series.
Thank you to the author and Death's Head Press for the copy for review.
Three story lines collide taking place in the Wichita Mountains. The Tate Gang, a band of outlaws that always manages to elude the law, James Haggard, a mountain man seeking vengence for the murder of his wife and daughter and Elizabeth Hughes, a smart ass teenage girl that leaves home in hopes of finding greater adventures on her solo trek to California. What these characters do not know, is that there are many accounts among various Indian tribes in the region of winged creatures that plague the mountains and prairies at night. As these characters begin to cross paths, we watch as they are all willing to work together, kind of, in order to survive a night with these vicious legends.
This story is fun as hell. Gory violence, a crooked ass priest and creatures that you would not be able to imagine yourself. However, there is one character that really stood out to me and really made this story what it was. That would be miss Elizabeth Hughes, our young heroine (?) For a large part of the book, Elizabeth is by herself with her horse and her dialogue could not be any more entertaining. This character has absolutely no filter and, while she seems mildly unhinged, there were several parts that I could not keep myself from laughing out loud.
While Elizabeth really stole the show for me, there was one part that really kept me from giving it a full five stars. When we finally get to meet the creatures in this story, more than a fly by that is, they were described completely different than what I had been imagining the whole book. While this doesn't necessarily surprise me, it was rather disappointing. I kept thinking that these things were clearly some prehistoric anomaly of nature yet, that was not really the description we get. I will leave you with that, as I highly recommend you check out this installment and really, this entire series.
Thank you to the author and Death's Head Press for the copy for review.
December 17, 2020
As a historian I found the brutal realism of the era masterfully portrayed in Harrison's yarn. It takes balls to tell it how once was and not water down history for those who wish to erase it. A Savage Breed is my favorite in the series to date.
December 28, 2020
If I ever read the words "Satan's slit" again it'll be too soon.
This book was just gross. I know it's a splatter western so they're supposed to be lots of blood and gore and violence but it didn't work in this book. I felt like the author just thought, "oh lets throw a bunch of old white guys together on a mission, using racial slurs, shooting everybody and lots of rape" and that'll satisfy. I kept reading because there's mentions of monsters but that's it like really just mentions. I wanted more of a monsters less of every single woman being a bitch and a whore. Also has this guy never met a teenage girl?! The teenage girl character was so underdeveloped and yet also disgusting.
Definitely my least favorite of all the splatter westerns. All filler and no story.
This book was just gross. I know it's a splatter western so they're supposed to be lots of blood and gore and violence but it didn't work in this book. I felt like the author just thought, "oh lets throw a bunch of old white guys together on a mission, using racial slurs, shooting everybody and lots of rape" and that'll satisfy. I kept reading because there's mentions of monsters but that's it like really just mentions. I wanted more of a monsters less of every single woman being a bitch and a whore. Also has this guy never met a teenage girl?! The teenage girl character was so underdeveloped and yet also disgusting.
Definitely my least favorite of all the splatter westerns. All filler and no story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2022
A wild, face paced story with some nasty characters. I loved Liz (never Elizabeth) Hughes. One of my favorites. A solid installation in the Death’s Head Press series of splatter westerns.
December 15, 2020
This book is number 6 in a series of Splatter Westerns released by Death's Head Press. The Night Worms blog group is reading all of this series for book parties, and this is the latest one in our reading queue. I have to admit that I took a bit of a break from social media for a while, and this is only the third book I have read in the series, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
A band of outlaws manage to escape execution after a priest finds out who they are and turns them in. A man overcome with grief sets out to kill the murderer's of his wife and young daughter, while an eccentric teenage girl decides to head west after learning of the death of her father. All of these characters converge in the Wichita Mountains after encountering a group of a terrifying and unexplainable entities that attack and kill both people and horses alike from seemingly out of nowhere.
Not many of the characters are likable early on in this novel. However, I found a few of them were growing on me as I read, and each of their separate stories come together to make one hell of an ending. It's hard living in the mountains, especially for travelers, and this book racks up quite a death count. I especially liked one chapter that was titled "A Brief Historical Interlude" and reads like some dusty tome that recounts the unexplained murders throughout the years before and after this story takes place. It sets up the ending nicely.
However, the beginning of the novel is troublesome. A Native American woman is repeatedly raped by a group of bank robbers, and then they even give her to a dirty priest who also rapes her. She becomes an actual character in the last half of the book, rather than just a mute woman who is forced to suffer at the hands of men, however, I would have liked to see her as the tough character she becomes throughout the entire book. We can surmise how terrible the robbers are without them abusing the poor woman for the entire first half of the book.
The blog group had extensive conversations about this book, and I realize that I may have been trying a little to hard to find the positive aspects of the story while I ignored the less than savory parts. It's definitely eye opening to discuss a book with your friends. I'm glad I have had the opportunity to do so with the Night Worms group.
A band of outlaws manage to escape execution after a priest finds out who they are and turns them in. A man overcome with grief sets out to kill the murderer's of his wife and young daughter, while an eccentric teenage girl decides to head west after learning of the death of her father. All of these characters converge in the Wichita Mountains after encountering a group of a terrifying and unexplainable entities that attack and kill both people and horses alike from seemingly out of nowhere.
Not many of the characters are likable early on in this novel. However, I found a few of them were growing on me as I read, and each of their separate stories come together to make one hell of an ending. It's hard living in the mountains, especially for travelers, and this book racks up quite a death count. I especially liked one chapter that was titled "A Brief Historical Interlude" and reads like some dusty tome that recounts the unexplained murders throughout the years before and after this story takes place. It sets up the ending nicely.
However, the beginning of the novel is troublesome. A Native American woman is repeatedly raped by a group of bank robbers, and then they even give her to a dirty priest who also rapes her. She becomes an actual character in the last half of the book, rather than just a mute woman who is forced to suffer at the hands of men, however, I would have liked to see her as the tough character she becomes throughout the entire book. We can surmise how terrible the robbers are without them abusing the poor woman for the entire first half of the book.
The blog group had extensive conversations about this book, and I realize that I may have been trying a little to hard to find the positive aspects of the story while I ignored the less than savory parts. It's definitely eye opening to discuss a book with your friends. I'm glad I have had the opportunity to do so with the Night Worms group.
December 14, 2020
While I didn’t hate this, I didn’t love it either. I enjoyed the story but there was a part that I just couldn’t let go of. Savage Breed is the right name for this book. If you take only one thing from my review let it be this warning: it contains bestiality. It is fairly short, just one mention but it was enough to scar me. If you have any problems with that subject I would steer clear. Other than that I enjoyed it.
Just as I said earlier the name is perfect for this book because that is exactly what the characters in this book are. You have racist comments, and lots of rape. The characters are very very unlikeable especially one but again, A SAVAGE BREED!
Thank you so much to Death’s Head Press and also to Night Worms for my review copy.
Just as I said earlier the name is perfect for this book because that is exactly what the characters in this book are. You have racist comments, and lots of rape. The characters are very very unlikeable especially one but again, A SAVAGE BREED!
Thank you so much to Death’s Head Press and also to Night Worms for my review copy.
January 1, 2021
Various groups of terrible people doing terrible things across the countryside fill this book. The first half of this book is filled with more rape than plot. If it wasn't such a short book, I probably wouldn't have finished it. The second half of the book has some original winged monsters and more from young Elizabeth, the only slightly enjoyable character in the book. I enjoyed the second half of the book, but that enjoyment was basically ruined by what came before.
Let's get this straight though before anyone accuses me of not being a "real" horror fan, I am no shrinking violet. I don't believe that there are lines that cannot be crossed in writing but I do believe that everything needs to have a reason for occurring. What the reason is though isn't as important as that it simply exists. The characters need motivation. The plot needs to move forward. What I don't like and don't find enjoyable is reading about violence, gore, rape, incest, etc that holds no weight and doesn't move the book forward. If an event isn't important enough to have a bearing on the story, then it shouldn't be in the book.
This book feels like it began with the idea of the cool monsters and the rest of the book was filled in with meaningless savagery that didn't contribute to the plot. If you want to read about some really cool winged bloodthirsty monsters, I recommend you skip the first half of the book, you won't miss anything of substance.
Let's get this straight though before anyone accuses me of not being a "real" horror fan, I am no shrinking violet. I don't believe that there are lines that cannot be crossed in writing but I do believe that everything needs to have a reason for occurring. What the reason is though isn't as important as that it simply exists. The characters need motivation. The plot needs to move forward. What I don't like and don't find enjoyable is reading about violence, gore, rape, incest, etc that holds no weight and doesn't move the book forward. If an event isn't important enough to have a bearing on the story, then it shouldn't be in the book.
This book feels like it began with the idea of the cool monsters and the rest of the book was filled in with meaningless savagery that didn't contribute to the plot. If you want to read about some really cool winged bloodthirsty monsters, I recommend you skip the first half of the book, you won't miss anything of substance.
October 11, 2020
A true smorgasbord of horror, laughs, and high plains action on the western frontier. Every aspect of this book hits its targets and the story offers some genuine surprises and more than one gut-punch. Patrick C. Harrison III is someone who probably won’t be an indie author for long. He’s a genuine master of the horror story, and he shows a deft handling of the old west archetypes, while managing to avoid cliche tropes.
This one is loads of fun and it’ll chill your blood to boot. Don’t miss out on this one!
This one is loads of fun and it’ll chill your blood to boot. Don’t miss out on this one!
October 10, 2020
Great read!
Loved Liz! My biggest complaint about this book is that there wasn't more of it! Loved the gore and the creatures. Definite recommend!
Loved Liz! My biggest complaint about this book is that there wasn't more of it! Loved the gore and the creatures. Definite recommend!
October 14, 2020
A rousing monster story set in the weird west.
Read
December 11, 2020So I hate DNFing books but I have to do it sometimes to save my own sanity. I read through more than half of the book and I just couldn’t finish it. The majority of what I read was all for shock value with no real story. It was flat with no real character development and only gave a brief mention of the monster in the 100 pages I read. Don’t get me wrong, I read a lot of messed up and nasty stuff but it has to have a story with a purpose. There is a large amount of rape and racism towards Indians which I gave leeway to for the time period but give me sustence to continue. I wasn’t finding it entertaining and was really struggling to continue. So sadly my first DNF for the Splatterpunk Series.
December 16, 2020
I’m hoping this book party sends a clear message to the wonderful people at @deathsheadpress: we love our brutal, shocking horror but we value substance above all else. This splatter western series has been an interesting journey for me, one of many highs but also many lows. Multiple 5⭐️ from me, but also my first DNF in a long time. That being said I still love the idea for the series and will eagerly dive into each new offering. I’m excited for the future and the other splatter westerns it holds!
So why did I DNF one book but not this one? I’m still not quite sure. I guess because it (kind of) had monsters and I kept holding out for that. But there’s nothing about this book I enjoyed and I certainly wouldn’t recommend anyone read it. Too much rape (like, way too much) and too many unlikable characters with no redeeming qualities. It’s shock value over substance and I’m not okay with that. I would also love to see a future splatter western where POC are treated as more than fodder for racism and brutality 🤷🏼♂️
Still, I’m thankful for @deathsheadpress and @night_worms for putting together this #nightwormsbookparty, so a big THANK YOU to them. This one missed the mark for me, but so far the series as a whole still has me hooked!
So why did I DNF one book but not this one? I’m still not quite sure. I guess because it (kind of) had monsters and I kept holding out for that. But there’s nothing about this book I enjoyed and I certainly wouldn’t recommend anyone read it. Too much rape (like, way too much) and too many unlikable characters with no redeeming qualities. It’s shock value over substance and I’m not okay with that. I would also love to see a future splatter western where POC are treated as more than fodder for racism and brutality 🤷🏼♂️
Still, I’m thankful for @deathsheadpress and @night_worms for putting together this #nightwormsbookparty, so a big THANK YOU to them. This one missed the mark for me, but so far the series as a whole still has me hooked!
October 27, 2020
First of all what great book cover for A Savage Breed.
Set in the Indian Wichita mountains this book is crammed with outlaws escaping from execution, a corrupt priest, a justice seeking man, Comanches, and a twisted feisty teen girl looking for adventure and they are all are connected together to form this tale.
But the biggest threat to them all is in the sky, around the mountains. The legendary Night Tribe which consists of big black winged flapping veiny creatures which swoop down violently taking humans & animals and scattering limbs and remains. In order to survive there is plenty of knife and gun action against the Night Tribe and also each other. Throw in some dismemberment, cannibalism, murder, torture, rape and thieving & it accumulates in to quite a action packed splatter western.
I enjoyed this book. In parts I got a little lost with the jumping around of characters and then the story I felt abruptly halted to mention another book with bullet point incidents related to the Night Tribe but it didn't distract too much from the overall enjoyment.
I really liked the characterisation, gore, humour and I loved the Night Creatures.
The twists were clever and I will certainly be reading the other books in the series .
A book I would recommend.
Set in the Indian Wichita mountains this book is crammed with outlaws escaping from execution, a corrupt priest, a justice seeking man, Comanches, and a twisted feisty teen girl looking for adventure and they are all are connected together to form this tale.
But the biggest threat to them all is in the sky, around the mountains. The legendary Night Tribe which consists of big black winged flapping veiny creatures which swoop down violently taking humans & animals and scattering limbs and remains. In order to survive there is plenty of knife and gun action against the Night Tribe and also each other. Throw in some dismemberment, cannibalism, murder, torture, rape and thieving & it accumulates in to quite a action packed splatter western.
I enjoyed this book. In parts I got a little lost with the jumping around of characters and then the story I felt abruptly halted to mention another book with bullet point incidents related to the Night Tribe but it didn't distract too much from the overall enjoyment.
I really liked the characterisation, gore, humour and I loved the Night Creatures.
The twists were clever and I will certainly be reading the other books in the series .
A book I would recommend.
October 11, 2020
One crazy tale
This is the most nutso entree in the splatter western series yet. A man comes home to find his wife and daughter slaughtered, a young girl looks up from milking a cow only to find her murdered father upon his trusty steed, and the Tate gang barely escape the noose one last time. And darkness lives in the skies above the hills...
This is the most nutso entree in the splatter western series yet. A man comes home to find his wife and daughter slaughtered, a young girl looks up from milking a cow only to find her murdered father upon his trusty steed, and the Tate gang barely escape the noose one last time. And darkness lives in the skies above the hills...
October 16, 2020
All Hail the (new) king
No one writes horror like Mr Harrison. He came job with the Splatter Western series and proves here, he leads the pack as well. Vicious. Brilliant. Get a copy
No one writes horror like Mr Harrison. He came job with the Splatter Western series and proves here, he leads the pack as well. Vicious. Brilliant. Get a copy
November 30, 2021
Really thought that the Liz character was going to be closer to Mattie from True Grit than what she turned out to be, based on other reviews. Real dark storyline for her.
I actually really enjoyed this. The characters back stories take most of the pages but that's okay. The premise of the winged creatures that eat people wasn't that appealing to me in the first place and I figured there wasn't a ton you could do with them anyway.
I actually really enjoyed this. The characters back stories take most of the pages but that's okay. The premise of the winged creatures that eat people wasn't that appealing to me in the first place and I figured there wasn't a ton you could do with them anyway.
April 22, 2022
Well, this is the sixth book on the series and probably my second favorite. We've got here a novel with 190 pages or so where we follow three groups of people. The first is a group of outlaws (Tate Brothers plus 2 sidekicks and one female indian slave they use to well - you know - nothing really graphic don't worry).
The other group is a young teen called Liz Sawyer and the best character of the bunch. The lst group is James Haggard who is seeking some indians that rape and murder his wife and child.
These are indeed three tales, interconnected that will join up by the end of the book.
So, basically the tate brothers killed a sheriff when they were going to be hung. The sheriff is the late father of Liz, and without her father she thought that she wanted to see the world (California first).
Some spoilers ahead
End of spoilers,
Pretty graphic scenes, and the author really is good trying to hide which of the three groups/characters is the "most" evil character among the three -after all , they've done everything.
There are some graphic mutilation which I enjoy reading.
Due to the late revelation I would give 8 stars (out of 10).
For people who don't enjoy reading about cannibalism, rape, gore among other evil words - then don't read this books - Or should I say THESE books. If you don't want splatter don't come here. This is no Louis L'Amour stuff.
The other group is a young teen called Liz Sawyer and the best character of the bunch. The lst group is James Haggard who is seeking some indians that rape and murder his wife and child.
These are indeed three tales, interconnected that will join up by the end of the book.
So, basically the tate brothers killed a sheriff when they were going to be hung. The sheriff is the late father of Liz, and without her father she thought that she wanted to see the world (California first).
Some spoilers ahead
End of spoilers,
Pretty graphic scenes, and the author really is good trying to hide which of the three groups/characters is the "most" evil character among the three -after all , they've done everything.
There are some graphic mutilation which I enjoy reading.
Due to the late revelation I would give 8 stars (out of 10).
For people who don't enjoy reading about cannibalism, rape, gore among other evil words - then don't read this books - Or should I say THESE books. If you don't want splatter don't come here. This is no Louis L'Amour stuff.
December 15, 2020
I find it a bit difficult giving a stand alone rating to A Savage Breed from Patrick C. Harrison III. It’s hard to say if the aspects of this book that really rubbed me the wrong way were particularly that abrasive, or is it a compound accumulation from the Splatter Western series as a whole. Rapey/ abusive treatment of the women-folk, and a harsh and a very heavy sense of racial insensitivity flow through these reads. These particular elements appear throughout the series to varying degrees that, each book on it’s own may be able to be shrugged off (mostly,) but when you get a dozen or so pages in to book six and the racially derogative point of view kicks in a “here we go again” groan emerges. I get that these books are period pieces, but I feel like the low hanging fruit is what’s constantly being served.
No, I didn’t hate this book, but that isn’t saying a lot. It’s not the writing, it’s the content. The opening chapter is solid, very solid, and really got me in the mood for gnarly bit of western mayhem, but then chapter two comes in to dash every bit of that mood. Rinse, repeat. Every time I start to gain a bit of momentum in these pages, the subsequent chapter will kill that mood.
I dug a lot of the Tate gang story line early on, wavering as we go. Elizabeth Hughs’ entertaining off-kilter personality brings a bit of fun “anything can happen” vibe through her narrative. She is a wild card in every sense. The flip side of this coin is the off-putting James Haggard story line, with Haggard being the second most abrasive Splatter Western persona thus far. I disliked every bit of Haggard.
And that conclusion, or the implied, “off camera” conclusion... 🤷♂️ what the hell. That could have been A Savage Breed’s chance to end on a high note. A strong build up leading to a familiar let down. Oh well. Maybe next time. There is a fan base that will get a kick out of this book, it just wasn’t quite to my liking.
Once again, thank you to @deathsheadpress for providing this read, the cover is a stunner. Thank you to @night_worms for having me along on this book party. I’m still pretty excited for the next couple of announced entries, I feel like a lot hinges on them. An opportunity to win me back, hopefully. Cheers, friends.
Personal entertainment value:
2/5
Zakk is a big dumb animal.
No, I didn’t hate this book, but that isn’t saying a lot. It’s not the writing, it’s the content. The opening chapter is solid, very solid, and really got me in the mood for gnarly bit of western mayhem, but then chapter two comes in to dash every bit of that mood. Rinse, repeat. Every time I start to gain a bit of momentum in these pages, the subsequent chapter will kill that mood.
I dug a lot of the Tate gang story line early on, wavering as we go. Elizabeth Hughs’ entertaining off-kilter personality brings a bit of fun “anything can happen” vibe through her narrative. She is a wild card in every sense. The flip side of this coin is the off-putting James Haggard story line, with Haggard being the second most abrasive Splatter Western persona thus far. I disliked every bit of Haggard.
And that conclusion, or the implied, “off camera” conclusion... 🤷♂️ what the hell. That could have been A Savage Breed’s chance to end on a high note. A strong build up leading to a familiar let down. Oh well. Maybe next time. There is a fan base that will get a kick out of this book, it just wasn’t quite to my liking.
Once again, thank you to @deathsheadpress for providing this read, the cover is a stunner. Thank you to @night_worms for having me along on this book party. I’m still pretty excited for the next couple of announced entries, I feel like a lot hinges on them. An opportunity to win me back, hopefully. Cheers, friends.
Personal entertainment value:
2/5
Zakk is a big dumb animal.
March 12, 2021
This is my second review of a Splatter Western tale from Death’s Head Press. Author, Patrick Harrison, III, brings a full gauntlet of terror, gore and fear into his Wild West tale of settler life gone wrong, deep in the American frontier. This story was fun to read and disturbing at the same time.
The setting is spot on, the language has that genuine Old West feel and there are characters to both love and to hate. This story is full of action, gunfights, barroom brawls and epic showdowns!
The feared Tate Gang is about to be put to death, per the fullest extent of the law, when they pull off a shocking escape that would have made Houdini proud. The three brothers Tate and their two other outlaws make their escape into the mountains with a kidnapped Indian woman in tow.
Meanwhile, grizzled mountain man, James Haggard comes home to find his wife and child dead in a most gruesome scene. Distraught with rage, he vows revenge on every Indian he can find, unwavering in his assumption of who committed the atrocious acts.
Nearby, a wild young lass by the name of Elizabeth Hughes decides to make her way out into the world. Elizabeth is not your typical frontier girl; with a mouth fouler than an outlaw and an excellent shot to boot, she is cut from a different cloth.
As they all travel on their different paths, they soon come to realize that something else lives in these hills. Something terrible hunts at night and there’s fresh meat in its territory.
The tale weaves an intricate narrative around these characters, the Indians that inhabit the land and their stories, and the ultimate showdown in the mountains of Barrier Ridge.
Five out of Five stars for this fantastic tale!
The setting is spot on, the language has that genuine Old West feel and there are characters to both love and to hate. This story is full of action, gunfights, barroom brawls and epic showdowns!
The feared Tate Gang is about to be put to death, per the fullest extent of the law, when they pull off a shocking escape that would have made Houdini proud. The three brothers Tate and their two other outlaws make their escape into the mountains with a kidnapped Indian woman in tow.
Meanwhile, grizzled mountain man, James Haggard comes home to find his wife and child dead in a most gruesome scene. Distraught with rage, he vows revenge on every Indian he can find, unwavering in his assumption of who committed the atrocious acts.
Nearby, a wild young lass by the name of Elizabeth Hughes decides to make her way out into the world. Elizabeth is not your typical frontier girl; with a mouth fouler than an outlaw and an excellent shot to boot, she is cut from a different cloth.
As they all travel on their different paths, they soon come to realize that something else lives in these hills. Something terrible hunts at night and there’s fresh meat in its territory.
The tale weaves an intricate narrative around these characters, the Indians that inhabit the land and their stories, and the ultimate showdown in the mountains of Barrier Ridge.
Five out of Five stars for this fantastic tale!
January 20, 2021
Another solid entry in the splatter western series. These books are so much fun to read. I loved this one!
April 11, 2021
Ruthless, just like the old West, A SAVAGE BREED spreads blood and nightmares of winged beasts from above across the prairie and onto the page.
You won't soon forget Liz Sawyer.
What a ride.
You won't soon forget Liz Sawyer.
What a ride.
January 4, 2024
3.75 ⭐
December 17, 2020
The Splatter Westerns is a unique series by Death's Head Press. They contain some utterly disturbing stuff, including ghoulish monsters, cannibalistic little girls and deadly gunslingers collecting souls for an evil entity. This is dark fiction. Torture and gore are things you come to expect and that's not a bad thing. Unfortunately, that is not the case with A Savage Breed by Patrick C. Harrison lll. It is as if the author wrote a horror western and jammed it full of rape and other explicitly twisted sexual scenes. I am confident there is a good book in here somewhere, it's just hidden under a mess of unnecessary abrasive content.
You can read Andrew's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Andrew's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
December 17, 2020
Ohmigawd this book was a crazy ride and a real page turner. Highly recommended for all fan of the splatter genre.
March 5, 2023
Absolutely loved Savage Breed. A very appropriate title. Great characters, a ton of blood and gore, and wicked dialogue. This book had everything I want from a Splatter Western, and more.
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