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Chindi
California, 1862. At a remote frontier outpost, a military officer and local tribal chief join forces in a fight for survival against an ancient Native American demon. But will such an alliance save their future, or does fate offer something more dreadful to the prospect of unity amongst former enemies?
243 pages, Hardcover
Published September 15, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 26, 2021
Chindi by Timothy Bryan begins in Northeastern California in the fall of 1862, diving into the story of a man named Abraham. As Abraham and his brother Billy dig something up in the rural landscape, they find a horrifying skull that strikes fear deep into their hearts. The story then travels across the plains to find a Native man named Chief Hakan as he discovers the bodies of a murdered family. He assumes the worst—that their tribe is being attacked.
The meat of the story begins with conflict. After the shocking deaths of many good people, Lieutenant Crook realizes that the Native Americans must be attacking white settlers. This spurs him to ready his men for battle, as more disastrous deaths occur around them. As we watch him struggle to understand why the conflict is happening, we learn that Abraham has been possessed by a being named Chindi—as he traverses the landscape, he collects the bodies of the dead, raising them to join him in his trek.
I found Chindi to be a harrowing story that explores history while emphasizing elements of horror. I loved the action throughout the story, and found Crook’s battles with the creature haunting and intriguing. As Crook and his men learned of the demons entering the bodies of the dead, I felt their fear along with them, completely entranced by the terrifying tale.
I would have liked to see even more description of the actual monsters. I had a hard time picturing the creatures at first, but I was thankful when Bryan explored the fearful aspects of their appearance. However, I sometimes felt that the increased dialogue took away from the atmospheric terror.
If you’re a fan of horror stories, Chindi takes the idea of a classic western and turns it into something absolutely haunting. I loved the unique nature of the monsters and enjoyed how history played a part in this spooky story. I recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting and scary read this Halloween season.
The meat of the story begins with conflict. After the shocking deaths of many good people, Lieutenant Crook realizes that the Native Americans must be attacking white settlers. This spurs him to ready his men for battle, as more disastrous deaths occur around them. As we watch him struggle to understand why the conflict is happening, we learn that Abraham has been possessed by a being named Chindi—as he traverses the landscape, he collects the bodies of the dead, raising them to join him in his trek.
I found Chindi to be a harrowing story that explores history while emphasizing elements of horror. I loved the action throughout the story, and found Crook’s battles with the creature haunting and intriguing. As Crook and his men learned of the demons entering the bodies of the dead, I felt their fear along with them, completely entranced by the terrifying tale.
I would have liked to see even more description of the actual monsters. I had a hard time picturing the creatures at first, but I was thankful when Bryan explored the fearful aspects of their appearance. However, I sometimes felt that the increased dialogue took away from the atmospheric terror.
If you’re a fan of horror stories, Chindi takes the idea of a classic western and turns it into something absolutely haunting. I loved the unique nature of the monsters and enjoyed how history played a part in this spooky story. I recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting and scary read this Halloween season.
October 12, 2022
Northern California, the fall of 1862, and we have the start of an exceptional fantasy/SF/horror novel that takes us back to the time of the Chindi. This native American nightmare makes the monster in the closet look very tame, indeed. Short but compelling, this is a book to read in the daylight, preferably in a hammock in the yard. Please, avoid the sound of running water and make sure the birds are singing merrily before you open the book.
pub date Sept 8, 2021
Reviewed on October 11, 2022, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.
I cannot remember where I got this ARC. If you know, please tell me!
pub date Sept 8, 2021
Reviewed on October 11, 2022, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.
I cannot remember where I got this ARC. If you know, please tell me!
January 6, 2022
A thrilling story that captivated me from the beginning to end. As the narrator, Jordan Harbin, brilliantly tells Timothy Bryan’s story, I instantly became enchanted with the author’s imagination. Based in 1862, located in California, soldiers of war struggle to coexist with the Native Americans. But when an ancient supernatural demon awakens and hunts the two—killing and possessing the dead—they must find a way to overcome their differences and save what’s left of humanity. And the ending will surprise you.
Without giving away the story, I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys mystery, a bit of horror, suspense, history, and exceptional storytelling. BRAVO!
Without giving away the story, I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys mystery, a bit of horror, suspense, history, and exceptional storytelling. BRAVO!
November 5, 2021
CHINDI is incredibly lyrical, imaginative, intriguing, and occult. The protagonist in this novel, which I would classify in the nebulous category of "Weird Western," is a U.S. Army Lieutenant stationed in Northern California early in the American Civil War. His superior officer is a bigoted, sodden, alcoholic. Another protagonist is a deeply wise Native chief, Hakan. Both are more intuitive than their counterparts, and far more open-minded; necessary, because a plague of evil has burst forth in the region, previously known for gold prospecting and peaceful Native villages. This newly activated evil attacks both white settlers and Native Americans, but of course both sides leap to blame the other. If not stopped, this evil could infect the nation, and beyond.
CHINDI is rife with both morality and bigotry, with wisdom and blind ignorance. In addition to being a fine Horror story, the novel provides much to ponder.
CHINDI is rife with both morality and bigotry, with wisdom and blind ignorance. In addition to being a fine Horror story, the novel provides much to ponder.
December 12, 2021
Review through Voracious Readers Only
Really exciting historical horror. We are used to our horrors set in modern times but this was very clever. Set in the west with soldiers and Indians and a demon set on destroying the earth. Great concept, fast paced, interesting characters. Enjoyed this!
Really exciting historical horror. We are used to our horrors set in modern times but this was very clever. Set in the west with soldiers and Indians and a demon set on destroying the earth. Great concept, fast paced, interesting characters. Enjoyed this!
May 27, 2022
A marauding Native American demon in the 19th century is hellbent on destroying anyone he can get his claws or teeth into. Each victim becomes part of his zombie army. In this exciting and fast-paced novel, Bryan deftly weaves in a ton of characters and makes you care about their fate. If you’re a fan of zombie apocalypse movies and books, like The Walking Dead and World War Z, Chindi will not disappoint. In fact, it would make a great film!
June 26, 2022
Very enjoyable book that flows between character views and has it's own twists and plot reveals. The conflict between peoples shows the true meaning of the groups working together for a common cause. Highly recommend. I read the book through a complimentary copy of the book and am giving my honest review.
October 12, 2021
A Questionable Indigenous People's Day Offering, But It's Interesting and Scary
!!!Spoilers!!!
Chindi appealed to me because it has an outstanding setting and premise. The era after the American Civil War, with the gold rush and westward expansion, is a fascinating period and the unusual choice of Lt. George Crook as the central character interested me. Timothy Bryan has grounded his novel in a well-researched historical background, but some liberties taken bothered me.
Though I'm not an authority on Native American culture, I feel certain that if Native American beliefs are represented, it's vital to understand that they aren't monolithic. Since the tribes concerned are indigenous to the American northwest, I think that the word 'Chindi' is used inappropriately. It may be a more commonly recognizable word, but the novel's basic concept is good enough without dragging Navajo beliefs all the way up to northern California!
Though Pit River tribes weren't likely to call a supernatural entity a 'chindi,' it's more than likely that they have their own words and traditions relating to the spirit world. 'Chindi' is the Navajo word for a spirit made up of everything bad a person leaves behind if they die under certain circumstances. Navajos even abandon a house altogether if a person has died inside it. Furthermore, describing a character as being like a chindi would have been acceptable, but using the word as a proper noun is altogether misleading and aggravating. It's as child-like as calling another kind of horror character 'Werewolf' as a given name. ("Chindi, this is Werewolf." "Nice to meet you.")
I was further disappointed by the quick development of a romantic attraction between the Crook and the Chief's daughter. I don't know enough to say whether the actual Crook did more to advocate for Natives compared to others of his time, but socio-political differences aside, instant romances are cheap ways to fill gaps in a less-than-satisfying story. Though they may sell books, they're more likely to ruin them for my taste.
It was an uncomfortable development because no seasoned Army officer would be likely to go moon-eyed in front of his men, particularly during that era. And they were running and hiding for their lives, having seen children, women, and men alike, people they knew, 'killed' in horrifying ways!
The writing was unevenly polished, with minor annoyances, like the overuse of the word 'mortified,' distracting from the plot. The combined flaws whittled away at the story's suspense while raising the amount of effort required to remain immersed in it. Sadly, this blunted the fairly good conclusion's impact.
With 'Chindi', Bryan shows good writing skill, uses well-prepared ingredients, and has selected an interesting recipe. I just don't think this cake is quite ready to take out of the oven. I hope he'll do some revision to make the next edition of "Chindi" into a five star book. It would also make a great movie! It was worth reading all the way to the end, which earns it three stars: an "okay" in my rating scheme.
I'd like to thank Mr. Bryan for the free ARC I received via BookSirens. I hate to withhold a more enthusiastic endorsement, but I'm obliged to give my honest opinion. If readers enjoy stories about the period when the cavalry came to the rescue of settlers and tried to keep peace with Native Americans, and horror stories about malevolent supernatural beings, you may enjoy Chindi just as it is.
!!!Spoilers!!!
Chindi appealed to me because it has an outstanding setting and premise. The era after the American Civil War, with the gold rush and westward expansion, is a fascinating period and the unusual choice of Lt. George Crook as the central character interested me. Timothy Bryan has grounded his novel in a well-researched historical background, but some liberties taken bothered me.
Though I'm not an authority on Native American culture, I feel certain that if Native American beliefs are represented, it's vital to understand that they aren't monolithic. Since the tribes concerned are indigenous to the American northwest, I think that the word 'Chindi' is used inappropriately. It may be a more commonly recognizable word, but the novel's basic concept is good enough without dragging Navajo beliefs all the way up to northern California!
Though Pit River tribes weren't likely to call a supernatural entity a 'chindi,' it's more than likely that they have their own words and traditions relating to the spirit world. 'Chindi' is the Navajo word for a spirit made up of everything bad a person leaves behind if they die under certain circumstances. Navajos even abandon a house altogether if a person has died inside it. Furthermore, describing a character as being like a chindi would have been acceptable, but using the word as a proper noun is altogether misleading and aggravating. It's as child-like as calling another kind of horror character 'Werewolf' as a given name. ("Chindi, this is Werewolf." "Nice to meet you.")
I was further disappointed by the quick development of a romantic attraction between the Crook and the Chief's daughter. I don't know enough to say whether the actual Crook did more to advocate for Natives compared to others of his time, but socio-political differences aside, instant romances are cheap ways to fill gaps in a less-than-satisfying story. Though they may sell books, they're more likely to ruin them for my taste.
It was an uncomfortable development because no seasoned Army officer would be likely to go moon-eyed in front of his men, particularly during that era. And they were running and hiding for their lives, having seen children, women, and men alike, people they knew, 'killed' in horrifying ways!
The writing was unevenly polished, with minor annoyances, like the overuse of the word 'mortified,' distracting from the plot. The combined flaws whittled away at the story's suspense while raising the amount of effort required to remain immersed in it. Sadly, this blunted the fairly good conclusion's impact.
With 'Chindi', Bryan shows good writing skill, uses well-prepared ingredients, and has selected an interesting recipe. I just don't think this cake is quite ready to take out of the oven. I hope he'll do some revision to make the next edition of "Chindi" into a five star book. It would also make a great movie! It was worth reading all the way to the end, which earns it three stars: an "okay" in my rating scheme.
I'd like to thank Mr. Bryan for the free ARC I received via BookSirens. I hate to withhold a more enthusiastic endorsement, but I'm obliged to give my honest opinion. If readers enjoy stories about the period when the cavalry came to the rescue of settlers and tried to keep peace with Native Americans, and horror stories about malevolent supernatural beings, you may enjoy Chindi just as it is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2021
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy.
Chindi definitely was not what I was expecting and in a good way. Although I was fascinated by the brief summary I worried I may not have been able to read it all the way through due to it having a war/military based background.
This story takes place during the civial war era, but centers around the military and Native American unrest. When two gold excavators find an old native american satchel, one is inhabited by an old vengeful devil spirit bent on killing all especially the native american tribe leader.
This devil starts inhabiting native Americans and making them kill soldiers and civilians. This makes the military believe that the treaty of peace between the tribe and the "white man" is broken. A military man who was part of brokering this treaty hears this news, he and a few men meet with the tribe leader. On the way to meet him, they run into a native american who was nothing like they've ever seen. He is fierce, coming at them and not dying until his head is bashed or removed from his body.
Harkan, the tribe leader, informs the soldiers of the story of this "devil" and how they have to kill it before he kills or inhabits all.
There is death, secrets, fights, etc.. its action packed and keeps you guessing. What is the tribe leader hiding? How will this end?... find out by reading.
Chindi definitely was not what I was expecting and in a good way. Although I was fascinated by the brief summary I worried I may not have been able to read it all the way through due to it having a war/military based background.
This story takes place during the civial war era, but centers around the military and Native American unrest. When two gold excavators find an old native american satchel, one is inhabited by an old vengeful devil spirit bent on killing all especially the native american tribe leader.
This devil starts inhabiting native Americans and making them kill soldiers and civilians. This makes the military believe that the treaty of peace between the tribe and the "white man" is broken. A military man who was part of brokering this treaty hears this news, he and a few men meet with the tribe leader. On the way to meet him, they run into a native american who was nothing like they've ever seen. He is fierce, coming at them and not dying until his head is bashed or removed from his body.
Harkan, the tribe leader, informs the soldiers of the story of this "devil" and how they have to kill it before he kills or inhabits all.
There is death, secrets, fights, etc.. its action packed and keeps you guessing. What is the tribe leader hiding? How will this end?... find out by reading.
May 2, 2022
This is the third novella by Timothy Bryan that I have read, having begun with The Huntsman of Corvinus and then Despicable, both fantastic stories.
The late 1800's were a time of discovery and at the same time, strife. A prospector is panning for gold with his brother when he strikes a hard object while digging. He believes he has found treasure. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Instead, he's met with an ancient Indian curse. Chindi, the maker of voracious zombies and seeker of revenge.
The book takes place during a time of political unrest, with the civil war raging in another part of the country and the west trying to make peace with the Indians. A fort local to the area is working with an Indian chief to try to destroy Chindi and his mounting zombie hoard. The Indians and the "white man" must join forces to take down this malevolent spirit and save humanity, but can they really trust each other to do the right thing?
I love zombie stories and this one does not disappoint. The setting is also one that I have a long fascination with, the Wild West. Using frontier life as the backdrop and mounting tensions between factions, the author takes us on a wild ride through the dusty hills to discover if Chindi will success or fail. A fantastic story once again from Timothy Bryan. I much look forward to reading more from this author.
The late 1800's were a time of discovery and at the same time, strife. A prospector is panning for gold with his brother when he strikes a hard object while digging. He believes he has found treasure. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Instead, he's met with an ancient Indian curse. Chindi, the maker of voracious zombies and seeker of revenge.
The book takes place during a time of political unrest, with the civil war raging in another part of the country and the west trying to make peace with the Indians. A fort local to the area is working with an Indian chief to try to destroy Chindi and his mounting zombie hoard. The Indians and the "white man" must join forces to take down this malevolent spirit and save humanity, but can they really trust each other to do the right thing?
I love zombie stories and this one does not disappoint. The setting is also one that I have a long fascination with, the Wild West. Using frontier life as the backdrop and mounting tensions between factions, the author takes us on a wild ride through the dusty hills to discover if Chindi will success or fail. A fantastic story once again from Timothy Bryan. I much look forward to reading more from this author.
January 9, 2022
When a prospector discovers a hard object what digging during the days of the wild west, he is sure he has struck either gold or treasure.
He hasn't. Instead, he has encountered an ancient Indian curse, one that turns its victims into ravenous zombies. The curse of Chindi.
Unfortunately this has also occurred during a particularly politically sensitive point in history - one, where the hope is that further bloodbaths and atrocities between natives and white can be averted. After a supposedly secure fort succumbs, Indian and White Man must pool their intelligence together, to lift the curse and destroy the zombies. But how can either side be sure one doesn't have an agenda beyond this crisis?
Using zombies in the context of an historical novel does work, and the writer creates a decent evocation of that dusty Frontier life. Clearly there are still ways the zombie trope, which always begs the question on how degraded humans en masse can become, is still a vein that can still be mined. Zombie lovers should really enjoy the sheer schlockiness of this one!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
He hasn't. Instead, he has encountered an ancient Indian curse, one that turns its victims into ravenous zombies. The curse of Chindi.
Unfortunately this has also occurred during a particularly politically sensitive point in history - one, where the hope is that further bloodbaths and atrocities between natives and white can be averted. After a supposedly secure fort succumbs, Indian and White Man must pool their intelligence together, to lift the curse and destroy the zombies. But how can either side be sure one doesn't have an agenda beyond this crisis?
Using zombies in the context of an historical novel does work, and the writer creates a decent evocation of that dusty Frontier life. Clearly there are still ways the zombie trope, which always begs the question on how degraded humans en masse can become, is still a vein that can still be mined. Zombie lovers should really enjoy the sheer schlockiness of this one!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
November 28, 2021This novel is set in 1862. A time of strife between Native Americans and settlers where Lieutenant Crook is desperately trying to make peace. Then an ancient evil Indian sprit rises and creates more pressure and distrust by attacking both sides indiscriminately. Crook teams up with the local Chief to fight the darkness. Chindi, the evil sprit also creates a zombie like army to contend with. It was interesting to read about the characters basic mistrust of each other even while they work together. I found it to be neither too vanilla nor too scary or gruesome. I would recommend to teens or adults who want a taste of horror without being too scared. It takes skill to dive into horror without going overboard and this novel does a good job. I would have liked to see the characters fleshed out a bit more. They were interesting and different from one another which is always a plus. The drama between each characters conflicts might have added to the story. I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 14, 2026
If you have read one of this blokes book then you have read them all! They all have EXACTLY the same premise/setup/characters etc. It is beyond a joke, he uses old ideas from other books (fair enough), and then churns out the same drivel over and over.
I have read this, By Their Cold Fingers and Despicable, I can't speak for his other books as I got so bored of the exact same story half way through Despicable I deleted it off my Kindle
I can't beleive his publisher would put up with the same story over and over, yeah it is in a different setting/time period, but it is EXACTLY the same over all 3 books.
Oh and the amount of spelling mistakes! (not the American spelling, we are used to that pathetic nonsense in the rest of the world), but the actual spelling and grammar mistakes were terrible!
I have read this, By Their Cold Fingers and Despicable, I can't speak for his other books as I got so bored of the exact same story half way through Despicable I deleted it off my Kindle
I can't beleive his publisher would put up with the same story over and over, yeah it is in a different setting/time period, but it is EXACTLY the same over all 3 books.
Oh and the amount of spelling mistakes! (not the American spelling, we are used to that pathetic nonsense in the rest of the world), but the actual spelling and grammar mistakes were terrible!
December 2, 2021
Chindi is a story about a spirit that possesses a man and continues to gather more and more members into its army of vengeance. I thought the story was good, the plot flowed pretty well, and the characters were somewhat interesting. Some more than others. There were things I would prefer to have been written differently, but that is more of a style preference on my part. There was a need for an editor in a few places. That was somewhat distracting. Overall it was a decent story with the right length. I think with a little editing, this could be a terrific tale.
I received this review copy for my unbiased opinion.
I received this review copy for my unbiased opinion.
August 30, 2022
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
The story was exciting, though I never felt like the main characters were in real danger--this didn't feel like the kind of book where the good guys lose. I don't mind when this is the case because it makes reading these books a lot less stressful.
I would have liked a little more depth to the characters, but because everyone seemed rather flat, the treachery of Hakan and Loraine's ability to figure it out was a pleasant surprise. But maybe Nayeli and Crook's relationship wouldn't have been so eye-rollingly cheesy if there had been more time for them to interact instead of the instant attraction.
The story was exciting, though I never felt like the main characters were in real danger--this didn't feel like the kind of book where the good guys lose. I don't mind when this is the case because it makes reading these books a lot less stressful.
I would have liked a little more depth to the characters, but because everyone seemed rather flat, the treachery of Hakan and Loraine's ability to figure it out was a pleasant surprise. But maybe Nayeli and Crook's relationship wouldn't have been so eye-rollingly cheesy if there had been more time for them to interact instead of the instant attraction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2022
This story was written in the time when the civil war was happening, but this Story was out west where troops and Native people had gotten to a comfortable setting. A Gold miner is digging by a river and finds a satchel done with Beadwork and digs further to investigate. His partner finds a skull still attached to part of a spinal column. The miner becomes possessed by a Ancient Evil spirit and the story begins. Narrator did a good job with the characters voices and the storyline.
March 3, 2022
Audible:Zombie type creatures in the old west! The old Indian seems to know what it is, a demon from his tribes past that wants to destroy all living things. This was a very good book!I enjoyed it.Narration by Jordan Harbin was good.He tried to make his men have different accents,but that did not work so well for me. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
December 30, 2021
A fun, twisted read … historical fiction / war times / myths/legends and demons. Oopposing forces joining together to hopefully … defeat? Or at least survive, a common enemy. A fun read to curl up with on a rainy day, or during ‘spooky season’ or if you’re looking for something a bit creepy but also nostalgic.
Well done.
Audio:
Excellent performance.
Well done.
Audio:
Excellent performance.
September 9, 2021
Supernatural spirit returns
A riveting read with all the elements that move you along from one exciting page to another: suspense, excitement, engrossing characters, a story that flows from one fever pitch to an unexpected conclusion.
A riveting read with all the elements that move you along from one exciting page to another: suspense, excitement, engrossing characters, a story that flows from one fever pitch to an unexpected conclusion.
March 16, 2022
The premise of the story grabbed my attention. A horror story with a historical setting. Putting two groups of people that do not trust each other, having them work together and help overcome a common evil. The plot and characters mesh well together to make a good horror story.
I received this complimentary copy of this book from Voracious Readers.
I received this complimentary copy of this book from Voracious Readers.
August 16, 2022
I won this book through Goodreads. While I do appreciate winning this book, I do need to be honest in my review. I just simply did not like the book. The writing is very elementary, it was choppy. It did not draw me in at all and I struggled to get through it.
November 14, 2021
Received as a gift from an ARC program that i belong to, this was in no way a light read. scary, with a bang up ending. If you like a historical tale plus a horror aspect, heres your ticket.
December 17, 2021
kinda choppy story but not too bad
January 10, 2022
Loved this story. I completed in only 2 days. If you like a suspenseful tale to keep you on the edge of your seat, Chindi is a must read.
October 25, 2023
I mean, it wasn’t very bad, but it also wasn’t very good. It’s a very simple and quick read that is probably good for adolescents.
January 30, 2024
Chindi was a great reading experience. This author is amazing and drags you into the story every time. I cannot say enough this story takes place in a small area but wow the things they go through
January 1, 2025
Thoroughly scary, great read
June 25, 2022
This Western Horror Story will keep you turning pages! This is kind of a mix-up in folklore of western/indian/horror with 'The Walking Dead' too! I love the twisting of stories and history... between a demon and traditional 'white man', this story will keep you reading! There is also good within this story, of faith within a family, within a tribe, and service men. This story ended with so many possibilities of a continuation... I hope there is, because this is not just a kill-type horror book!
Thank you Timothy Bryan for another great read!
Thank you Timothy Bryan for another great read!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews